The idea of a "Living Economy" makes both production and consumption more conscious, and emphasizes the mutual accountability between business and the community.  The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (www.livingeconomies.org) is a fast-growing international network of self-organizing local business alliances that share these values and promote the "local-first," socially and environmentally responsible economy.   Formalized in 2006 after several years of community education and social events, the Hudson Valley Sustainable Business Network is an affiliate of BALLE serving the seven counties from Westchester up through Columbia and Greene.  The Network's 2007 program includes:

• Monthly Peer to Peer business problem solving groups
• Alerts on policy issues of interest to independent business and creating a level economic playing field for Mom and Pop
• Consultant services of a very special kind with DoRight Enterprises, a youth business created by educational consultant Scott Beall (www.scottbeall.com)
• A new vehicle to tell the story of local independent business, the "Made in the Hudson Valley" Green Map to be distributed for the harvest and holidays of late 2007.