Community Listening
Interviews, Business on the Block episodes, and owner roundtables that bring business voices into the room.
For partners
Understand the businesses you are trying to serve.
Many organizations exist to help local businesses. Local Exchange helps you hear directly from owners, see where they get stuck, and learn whether your help is reaching them.
The Local Exchange model
Listen. Document. Connect. Follow up. Learn.
- 1
Listen, then
Owners tell their stories in their own words.
- 2
Document, then
Conditions, barriers, and priorities are recorded with the owner.
- 3
Connect, then
Needs are matched to relevant partners, with consent.
- 4
Follow up, then
At 30 days, 90 days, and six months.
- 5
Learn
Aggregate findings show what is working.
Ways to partner
Partnership categories
Research
Structured business-condition research using a consistent instrument, so findings can be compared across places and over time.
Business Activation
Outreach, resource navigation, and referrals — with follow-up that documents whether help arrived.
Local Intelligence
Community-level findings, analysis, and reports for your service area or program.
Sponsored Storytelling
Business on the Block series focused on a community, corridor, or industry.
Start a conversation
Tell us about your community, program, or question.
Who we work with
Institutions that serve local business.
Partners never receive owners' private information without the owner's permission. Research products use de-identified data, and every rate is reported with its numerator and denominator.
- Municipalities
- Aldermanic offices
- Chambers of commerce
- Community development organizations
- CDFIs
- Banks
- Universities
- Foundations
- Corporations
- Economic development organizations