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3c hapter - Index of

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Conclusion 225<br />

Local, state, and federal governments also play a critical role.<br />

Like Illinois, they can stop looking to giant corporations for salvation<br />

and realize that, if each <strong>of</strong> their homegrown businesses could hire<br />

one person, they would have a stronger, more diverse, and less vulnerable<br />

economy—at a fraction <strong>of</strong> the cost. Many successful initiatives,<br />

such as Cleveland’s Evergreen Cooperatives and Toronto’s<br />

Social Venture Exchange, could not have happened without the<br />

support <strong>of</strong> enlightened local governments and institutions. I will<br />

leave the economic development and policy fi xes for the experts.<br />

But as citizens and investors, we, too, have a vital role to play. As<br />

the Clare cops and the Brooklyn bookworms, and the Austin beer<br />

lovers showed, amazing things are possible when individuals get<br />

involved.<br />

So check out your local merchants before refl exively heading<br />

<strong>of</strong>f to that big-box store. Move your money to a community<br />

bank or credit union. Join a co- op. If you don’t have local investment<br />

opportunities, join or start a local c<strong>hapter</strong> <strong>of</strong> Slow Money<br />

or BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies). Think<br />

about where your dollars go. Support policies that actually help<br />

entrepreneurs, not just multinational business. And, whenever<br />

possible, eat local, buy local… and invest local.

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