Booch, Beer and Sustainable Business

There are so many "Durham" things about this story.  It's about sustainability, equality, great food and drink, and even mass transit.  It's the sort of story that makes people love Durham even more...and research shows the love for Durham is at an all time high.

On March 7th, 2012, from 6:00 – 8:00pm, Slow Money NC is holding a “Booch, Beer and Sustainable Business Gathering” at Ninth Street Bakery. Several local business entrepreneurs – including Ninth Street Bakery - will kick off the evening by showcasing their upcoming expansion ideas to potential Slow Money lenders.

Frank Ferrell Serves Up Bull City Booch at Nintth St. Bakery

“In June of 2010,” recalls Carol Peppe Hewitt, co-founder of Slow Money NC, “we made the first Slow Money loan of $2000 to an aspiring baker in Pittsboro, NC. Since then dozens of ordinary people throughout NC have made similar low-interest loans to sustainable farmers, restaurants that serve local food, a beekeeper, a gluten-free baker, a local produce distribution company, and more. To date these Slow Money loans, that range from $500 to $5000, now total over $100,000.” 

Slow Money NC also formed an Investor Club that continues to break new ground in building resilience in local economies across the state, bringing the total  local investment to over half a million dollars.

Bryan McGannon, from the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) in Washington, DC will be on hand at the event to talk about how North Carolina sustainable businesses and their organizations can collaborate to build a more vibrant, just and sustainable local and national economy. Like Slow Money NC, the ASBC supports innovative financing solutions to transform our economy while working to shape public policy in that direction.

Ninth Street Baker has been operating in Durham since 1981. This year they added beer on tap, cider, Bull City Booch (their signature kombucha), an expanded menu, and extended their hours at the East Chapel Hill Street location in Downtown Durham.  They, too, seek a Slow Money loan to add an outdoor deck to host more events.

“Making small, affordable loans to local food projects, and helping others do the same, is a way to greatly expand that impact. Frank has been giving to his community for decades. Now it’s time to give him something back,” added Hewitt.

Durham has a national reputation for being a great place for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, in part because of strong community support.  Learn more about the latest effort to entice new start-up businesses to come to Durham here.  Nationally, Slow Money has a goal of one million people investing 1% of their money in local food systems within the decade.