The significant environmental impact of commercial transportation is encouraging consumers and green businesses to seek out local suppliers for products and services. The movement is nascent, but increasing demand will stimulate market forces and help build local economies.

Resources:

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is a network of 15,000 local business partners and entrepreneurs from all over the United States who have joined together in 55 (and growing!) local networks to supply the emerging green economy. BALLE's mission is to catalyze, strengthen, and connect networks of locally owned independent businesses. Their ultimate goal is a global economy made up of linked local economies and businesses that are local, green, and fair.

The Center for a New American Dream has developed local buying guides to help consumers and businesses find locally-produced products and services.

Locallectual is a brand new “wiki-type” web site designed to help consumers and businesses find locally-produced products and services. The site can be searched by category, location and various environmental and socially responsible criteria.