Local Economies Project

The Local Economies Project (LEP) explores and promotes strategies for cultivating “local living economies” within an initial geographic focus on the Hudson Valley of New York State. Local living economies are rooted in local ownership of businesses, local government and public institutions (eg. schools and hospitals) procurement practices and policies that are based on principals of fair trade, living wages, democratic practice, and environmental stewardship. LEP has designated local food systems as a key entry point to building a sustainable economy.

In early 2011, the Project initiated a number of planning grants to selected organizations to bolster capacity and design strategies for advancing efforts in farmer development, value added processing, research, and farm-to-school programming. Initial grant making has centered largely on the Rondout Valley, a fertile watershed within the greater Hudson Valley, but additional grant making is planned for organizations throughout the Hudson Valley and the larger New York City foodshed. The Local Economies Project aims to develop and nurture models of localization that can be replicated throughout the country.

Because of its nimble status as a funding project of The New World Foundation, LEP is able to work directly with associations of farmers who are involved in social enterprise efforts in their communities.

The Local Economies Project intends to be a force in sustainable economic and civic development that favors creating social wealth through interconnected democratic institutions rooted in local communities that support responsible, fair and equitable ecosystems.

For more information, please contact:
Bob Dandrew, Director, Local Economies Project
o: (212) 497-3473 e: bdandrew@newwf.org