Building Blocks
building blocks and members
ssbn and its member businesses represent a local living economy organized around the components or building blocks of a sustainable system -- Retail; Food & Farming; Building; and Energy:
Retail
Independent locally owned retail businesses are a fundamental part of a local marketplace for goods. Look for the window decals highlighting our Think Local First Campaign, which recognizes these businesses and encourages local residents to vote with their dollars by supporting local retailers. Local retailers are vital to a community and support the town by employing residents, shopping for supplies locally, paying town and state taxes, and supporting community charitable organizations. For every $100 you spend at a locally owned business, more than $60 stays in that community.
Food & Farming
Lancaster and York Counties and surrounding areas are known as having some of the finest farmland, farmers, and farm products anywhere in the world. The ssbn is happy to support the Lancaster Buy Fresh/Buy Local organization as they promote the healthy connections residents enjoy by buying and eating local produce, meats, dairy and other farm and food products crafted right here in the lower Susquehanna River valley.
Building
As our region continues to grow economically, the need for smart growth, green building, and historic preservation is greater than ever. Sustainability means growth that protects our vital farmland, forests and water supplies and revitalizes our downtowns, growth that creates a built environment which is not dependent on perpetuating an overdependency on automobiles and oil, and growth that uses resources and energy in a way that reduces our collective "ecological footprint" on the planet.
Energy
Shifting our consumption of energy to renewable sources and energy conservation is one of the most important ways that community institutions, individuals and businesses can reduce our local and global environmental impact.
Climate, Energy and Water Communications Resources (Excel Download)
