Institute for Local Self Reliance

Independent business - the independent business initiative collaborates with partners and allies to bring about an economy that embodies democratic values, where businesses and decision-makers are rooted locally and accountable to the communities they serve, and prosperity is broadly shared.

Community broadband networks - the community broadband networks initiative documents and promotes locally owned, democratically accountable networks offering universal access to fast, affordable, and reliable internet connections in order to improve everyone's ability to communicate.

Communications - ilsr's communications outreach program builds relationships with reporters, media outlets, and other allies to gain widespread coverage of our reports, activities, and perspectives on critical policy issues. Our communications team is responsible for our web site, social media networks and delivering content via ilsr's various newsletters and podcasts, including our flagship channel, building Local power, which continues to lift up successful grassroots campaigns and popularize understanding of anti-monopoly strategy and policy across a range of economic sectors. Our communications program also holds pass- through grant funds from a number of foundations that are distributed to a network of grassroots organizations that are part of the athena coalition.

Energy democracy - the energy democracy initiative provides policy and action tools for people in cities and rural communities to oppose energy monopolies and build Local power to develop and own renewable energy. Waste to wealth - the waste to wealth initiative provides hands-on technical assistance, as well as vital research, to help community organizations, government agencies, and private businesses convert discarded materials from environmental and economic liabilities into valuable resources that add value to the Local economy while enhancing community resilience and development opportunities. The public good - this initiative works to change the narrative that currently views the private sector as sacred and the public sector as inherently harmful. The program identifies research that challenges this narrative and educates the general public about the benefits of public goods and the risks attendent to a culture providing immense subsidies to privatization in all sectors. Composting for community - the composting for community program advances locally based composting in contrast to centralized waste collection in order to create jobs, enhance soils, protect the climate, and reduce waste.