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Relocalization proponent Michael Shuman to speak in North Carolina

Michael Shuman, a nationally known proponent of community-based economies, will speak in two places (that I'm aware of) in North Carolina this month, one of which is open to the public.

Shuman, author of "The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition" and "Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age," will speak to the Weaver Street Market members in Carrboro on Oct. 25.

Shuman will also speak on Oct. 29 to attendees of the Central Park NC workshop and annual gathering. The workshop is $25 and the evening portion of the event is free (you need to register by Oct. 26). Central Park NC is bringing Shuman to the small town of Star in Montgomery County to give them ideas for rebuilding local economies that have been devastated by years of manufacturing job losses and outsourcing. The 15-year-old organization covers eight counties, including Randolph, Davidson and Montgomery counties, which are in the Piedmont Triad, and its goal is to create a sustainable local economy based on based on heritage and cultural tourism development and outdoor recreation.

Attendees will also be able to take a tour of STARworks Center for Creative Enterprises, a type of business incubator in Star that houses a community-supported garden, ceramics and glass blowing studios, clay factory and planned biodiesel plant. The center also plans to offer a graphic arts studio to train young people and is considering a cooperative brewery and community-owned business ventures.

"I think that the time is probably never better to talk about strengthening the local independent business movement, said Nancy Gottovi, executive director of Central Park NC. "We're bringing Shuman here because this region has lost thousands of jobs over the past five years."

Gottovi said residents of the rural counties have learned that they should not rely on drawing large companies for employment because they cannot absorb job losses when they leave. Instead, towns such as Star, which has about 800 residents, need 100 different businesses employing a few people rather than "putting that many eggs in one basket."

Still, the center is an experiment and starting point for rural communities wanting to reinvent themselves.

"I think a lot of buy local campaigns have not succeeded because there's this all or nothing approach and it's not realistic," said Gottovi, acknowledging that communities cannot meet all of their own needs.

By the way, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, which Shuman is a member of, will hold its annual conference in Charleston, S.C. next year.

Update (Oct. 15): I just found out that Shop Local Raleigh is bringing Jeff Milchen, co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance and a leading advocate for community-based businesses, to the city for an event on Oct. 21. This is free and open to the public.