What does the
Local Business Institute do?
Part think tank, part school, part national leadership, part training ground for local leadership, the Institute is home to local leaders from across the country. Through online and on-demand programs, special projects, distance learning, virtual and live conferences, lectures and events, we work to foster local, national and even global conversations around entrepreneurship and local economies. We bring substantial resources to entrepreneurs of all ages and stages.
Get involved!
Take the Live Local Pledge
Join the LocalFirst Community
Take essential training with a Business Bundle on the LBI Virtual Campus
At the Local Business Institute, we don’t talk about business as B to B or B to C. We talk about small, local business as H2H—Human to Human—because all small business is humans helping other humans. It’s why we all do what we do.
Our belief in local business goes even deeper. Read more.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Completed Projects
Programs
Using Failure to Succeed
I want to take a rather bold step of redefining failure. FAILURE—it’s such a negative word and certainly something to be avoided at all costs. Or is it? Entrepreneurs know that we learn much more from our failures than our successes. Of course you can’t fail all the...
Leading Small Business Trends You Need to Know About
As entrepreneurs, we’re usually wearing multiple hats while simultaneously trying to keep all the balls in the air. And that’s just within the walls of our business! There’s a never ending flow of information coming our way ever hour of the day. Some of it’s useful,...
Power of Local Podcast: The Humanity of Small Business
Power of Local Podcast: The Humanity of Small Business Join us for this Power of Local Podcast where co-founders Rebecca Melançon and Vicky Valdez talk about the Humanity of Small Business. Small business isn't B2B or B2C but H2H—Human to Human. The Power of Local...
Join Us in Chicago for Gamechanging Discussions
We're incredibly honored and excited to host a panel of entrepreneurs at the upcoming Neighborhood Economics Conference in Chicago. We would love to see you there! Neighborhood Economics will be in Chicago Sept. 29–Oct. 1! Join us at Venue SIX10 in the South Loop to...
Free Fall Social Media Campaign: H2H
At the Local Business Institute (LBI), we don't talk about B2B or B2C, we talk about H2H—Human to Human because that's what all small local business is about. We'll run this campaign of eight posts throughout September and October to remind everyone of the humanity of...
We’re on Alignable. You Should Be Too!
Alignable is a networking platform specifically designed for small businesses. In fact Alignable is home to 10 million small businesses! At the Local Business Institute (LBI), we've met customers and new partners from across the nation—people we would have never...
