LocalCode

LocalCode helps communities thrive across North America, reversing the negative spiral of declining Main Streets with locally-owned real estate and sustainable enterprises. LocalCode is a hybrid organization, comprised of the for-profit LocalCode development company and the not-for-profit LocalCode Academy (“Academy”). 

The Academy helps communities build the foundation for regenerative economic development. It provides education and training, directs an apprenticeship program for aspiring business owners, and aids/incubates specific projects with financing and other support. The organization orchestrates apprenticeships in the most successful, locally-owned sustainable companies (for profit and non-profit) in the country. These apprenticeships provide aspiring entrepreneurs the lived experience of working alongside owners of exactly the type of company they wish to start. In addition to hands-on experience, apprentices come away with franchise-caliber operating toolkits and an in-depth evaluation by their mentors. In addition to apprenticeships, the Academy platform provides education and training to community leaders on regenerative economic development, sharing lessons and resources from leading locally-owned businesses around the country and supports new enterprises with venture philanthropy. Following the apprenticeship, the Academy provides emerging entrepreneurs and their communities with financing and operational support (conditional on progressive ownership and community wealth generation).