National Business Alliance Dubs Toby Barazzuol of Eclipse Awards a 2013 BALLE Local Economy Fellow

BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) today announced that Toby Barazzuol of Eclipse Awards has been named as a 2013 BALLE Local Economy Fellow. The BALLE Fellowship is the only one of its kind in North America, dedicated solely to advancing the local economies movement. Selected Fellows are leaders at the forefront of rebuilding communities from the ground up through creative economic development strategies that enhance the staying power of locally owned businesses, and through emerging sustainable innovations in manufacturing, finance and food.

Mr. Barazzuol is the head of Eclipse Awards, which specializes in creating and designing recognition awards that are not only beautiful and solidly constructed, but built using only the most sustainable of methods. Using exquisite crystal award and glasswork, Eclipse Awards minimizes its economic footprint by using an energy efficient office space, complete with energy efficient toilets, a green roof to manage the temperature without the use of heaters or air conditioning, and skylights for extensive natural lighting.

In addition to his work at Eclipse Awards, Mr. Barazzuol was instrumental in creating Canada's first sustainable business community, the Strathcona Green Zone, a community that celebrates diversity and sustainability. Barazzuol says, "What stands before us is an opportunity to build a new economy based on respect, recognition, creativity and collaboration. An economy that creates value in ways that regenerate the environment and make people happy. Figuring out how to do this has fallen upon the shoulders of our generation, so I'm more than excited to connect with a group of sustainability leaders who are not only imagining a better way, but are also figuring out how to do it."

The 16 BALLE Local Economy Fellows were selected through referrals and support from some of the most respected and well-known organizations in the field: NoVo Foundation, Ashoka, New World Foundation, Rising Tide Capital, Rutgers Social Innovation Institute, Social Venture Network and Surdna Foundation. BALLE's Local Economy Fellowship began in 2011 and is dedicated to building local economies from within – investing in the people and businesses rooted right where they are – and has seen profound, lasting outcomes within just a few years.

"Creating real jobs and rebuilding local economies requires working on multiple fronts," said Michelle Long, executive director of BALLE. "Expanding local ownership, spreading effective ideas and models, connecting entrepreneurs to values-aligned financing, and connecting businesses with each other to leverage their collective strength is at the heart of our Fellows' work."

To find out more about Mr. Barazzuol's work at Eclipse Awards and throughout the Vancouver community, please visit www.eclipseawards.com

Bio: Toby Barazzuol of Eclipse Awards has made a name for himself and Eclipse Awards throughout the Vancouver area for his efforts to make the city, and his company, a greener part of the world. Eclipse Awards runs out of an energy efficient office building that allows the company to make award plaques and other corporate awards while maintaining a small environmental footprint.