Greening the Local economy roots jobs and work in our community

Interesting one from Totnes Transition Town who have published 'Local Ecomonic Blueprint' this week:



See video at http://youtu.be/iEVrc86Aig8

Economic localisation has often been argued from a range of perspectives, such as being a better way forward and being more sustainable, but rarely has the economic case to back it up been clearly set out.  The Blueprint concludes that:

• Although nationally 97% of grocery sales go through just 8,000 supermarkets - in Totnes 26% of money spent on food is already spent with a thriving web of local businesses. Plans to bring just 10% of the £22 million that currently leaves the local food economy to local businesses by targeting everyday items that could be bought cheaper locally would provide a £2.2 million boost to the local economy;
• Making homes in the area more energy efficient could be worth between £26 and £75 million: preparing local businesses to deliver just 10% of this value would be worth at least £2.6 million to the local economy;
• Developing local renewable energy potential could generate £6.4 million energy each year: building local demand and preparing local businesses to deliver as much of the supply chain as possible for just 10% of this potential contributes over £600k per year to our local economy.

This is all before the local economic multiplier is taken into effect, which could make the changes worth far more to the local economy.  When combined, this 10% target totals over £5 million which could remain locally and stimulate new jobs, new businesses and a new economy.  This is the economic case for seeing community resilience as a form of economic development, indeed as a form of economic development that is far more appropriate to the current economic situation than most of the other ideas being proposed elsewhere.

Full report is here

Follow the story at the transition network site