History of Dane Buy Local

Originally known as the Dane County Buy Local Initiative, Dane Buy Local was founded in 2004 as a program of Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility.

What attracted early adopters of the Dane Buy Local Idea?

• Importance of local ownership and purchasing
• Supporting small business practices and ethics
• Sense of community
• Desire to learn
• Belonging and inclusion
• Sustainability
• Respect
• Value of uniqueness vs. sameness
• Commitment to future generations
• Better quality of life for all
• Building social and economic capital

Dane Buy Local initiated the popular slogan, “Friendly Faces, Neighborhood Places”, and posters showcasing the slogan can still be found throughout Dane County at our member's place of business.

Today we have 700+ members and are proud to be the #1 Largest Buy Local Organization in the US on a City/County-wide scale. It is our mission to create a sustainable, vital local economy through education, collaboration, and promotion, as a non-profit member organization. In addition to serving our members locally in Dane County, we also play a national leadership role as members of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE).

View Dane Buy Local   2012 Annual Report.pdf.