Upcoming Bellingham business conference to focus on local business culture

This area is becoming well-known for its vibrant, locally owned business culture, and next week is an opportunity to show it off to others across the U.S.

Between Tuesday, June 14 and Friday, June 17, more than 600 business and public leaders are expected to gather in Bellingham for the ninth annual BALLE Business Conference. BALLE stands for Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a national organization that has Whatcom County's Michelle Long as its executive director. Most of the events surrounding the conference will be hosted by the local group Sustainable Connections at Western Washington University, which is co-sponsoring the event.