About Local Exchange
Starting with the people who run the businesses.
Our approach
Listen first. Structure second. Act third. Follow up.
Local Exchange Network starts with the experiences of business owners themselves. We listen to their stories, document what they are facing with care and consent, connect them to resources when we can, and come back to find out what happened.
Over time, those conversations become a credible, longitudinal record of neighborhood business conditions across Chicagoland — one that keeps owners' voices and context intact, and that institutions can use to serve businesses better.
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Story, then
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Research, then
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Connection, then
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Action, then
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Outcome, then
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Insight
What we do
One network, several ways in.
Business on the Block
Story-driven video series featuring local businesses.
The Roundtable
Local business owners tackling real issues together.
Local Action
Resources, referrals, and follow-up that create results.
Exchange Resources
Grants, technical assistance, partners, and tools.
The Network
Businesses. Communities. Institutions. Opportunities.
Chicagoland and Beyond
Neighborhoods today. A stronger region tomorrow.
Organization
Rooted in Chicago. Built for the region.
Chicago is where Local Exchange began, but not a boundary. We work with businesses and partners across the Chicagoland region — city neighborhoods, suburbs, and the corridors in between.
Local Exchange Network is an initiative of Velez Advisory Partners, LLC.