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The Vale Foundation has supported Rede Asta since the beginning of the Máscara + Renda project in 2020. In 2021, the project evolved into Rede + Renda, offering an even broader view of local businesses with a range of initiatives that help seamstresses and artisans make their businesses more sustainable and financially robust.
One of these initiatives is the Pertinho de Casa movement, launched in 2020 by Rede Asta in partnership with Accenture. Pertinho is present in 826 cities across every state and aims to boost the local economy by connecting buyers and sellers within the same area.
Brazil has 55 million nano and micro-entrepreneurs (including individual micro-entrepreneurs, small businesses, and informal workers), who together account for 50% of all jobs. Beyond supporting these small businesses, the local economy expands, generating more income, more jobs, greater diversity, and increased economic resilience for neighborhoods, communities, and cities.
Furthermore, tons of polluting gases are prevented from being emitted when we buy from our neighbors; perishable products arrive faster, reducing waste; food is served fresh; less packaging is used; local culture is valued; and a sense of belonging is strengthened, ensuring a better quality of life for everyone.
The Pertinho de Casa movement promotes all these benefits and brings localization to Brazilian cities in a structured, large-scale way.
In 2022, with the support of the Vale Foundation, Pertinho de Casa entered its second phase of expansion in São Luís (MA) to increase its reach among micro-businesses and stimulate local consumption.
Currently, the platform features 950 small businesses in the São Luís area, generating over 320 connections between sellers and consumers.
Since Pertinho knows no borders, the movement also arrived in Parauapebas (PA) in May, in partnership with Amazônia TEC, and already has 11 registered entrepreneurs across various sectors.