The 10% Shift is Administered by the 10% Shift Committee of the New England Local Business Forum (NELBF)

The New England Local Business Forum (NELBF) was formed in the fall of 2008 and includes representatives of local business organizations from sixteen communities from every state in New England. 

The 10% Shift was adopted as a key campaign by the NELBF in September of 2008. This breakthrough campaign is helping transform the New England regional economy and has been adopted by other local business organizations in local economies throughout North America.

10% Shift Committee
The 10% Shift Committee has been meeting weekly to develop this grassroots New England-wide campaign and includes the following members:

Steve Dagostino, Worcester Local First
Joe Grafton, Somerville Local First
Laury Hammel, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston
Michael Kanter, Cambridge Local First
Karen Marzloff, Seacoast Local

Mission Statement of the 10% Shift
The 10% Shift is a grassroots movement of citizens, businesses, government agencies and nonprofits working to shift 10% or more of our annual budget from non-local businesses to locally owned and independent businesses.

This modest but important change will keep a larger share of dollars in our region, stimulate the local multiplier, create thousands of new jobs, and spur a fundamental transformation in North American local economies.

The 10% Shift Vision
The 10% Shift envisions strong and vibrant local business groups that promote localized economic development and fosters sustainable and inclusive communities.

• The 10% Shift movement grows to include over hundreds of local business organizations throughout North America including thousands of business members that are allied with local nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.
• More than 100,000 individuals have signed the 10% Shift pledge.
• The 10% Shift message is visible in digital and print media, in local businesses and on the web, and is widely understood to be a positive and personal strategy toward local economic independence.
• The 10% Shift empowers all residents to generate substantial economic activity, create meaningful and good-paying jobs, and build healthy communities.
• The 10% Shift builds on the cultural and economic heritage of local communities, with a strong emphasis on self-reliance, local identity, and grassroots leadership.