Should Washtenaw County Have a Local Currency? February 23, 2010
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Think Local First recently received a grant from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority to research local currency models and conduct community charrettes to determine if there is interest in developing a local currency model in Washtenaw County.
They have asked us to answer three questions relating to local currencies.
1. Would the Washtenaw County community embrace a local currency?
2. If yes, what local currency model would the community like to see put into place?
3. Would the new currency system encourage community members to support local independently owned businesses at a higher rate?
We are holding three community input meetings that are open to everyone who is interested in learning more about this project. They will be an informal opportunity for community members to learn more about different types of local currencies models already in place around the world. The meeting format will allow participants to view informational materials at their leisure, ask questions, and finally to cast a ballot for the option that they feel best meets the needs of the community.
Here is the meeting schedule:
1. Tuesday February 23, 2010 at the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library in the Multi-purpose room in the lower level at 343 South Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor.
2. Thursday February 25, 2010 at the Ypsilanti Senior Center, at 1015 North Congress, Ypsilanti.
3. Wednesday March 3, 2010 at the Vitosha Guest Haus Inn, (the former location for the Unitarian Church) at 1917 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor.
All meetings are open to the public between 6 and 8 PM. Participants should feel free to stop by anytime as it will be an informal setting that allows them to move at their leisure. We recommend that they plan to spend at least 45 minutes of their time to thoroughly understand the process and should arrive by 7:15 PM for all of the three meetings.
Think Local First will compile the data obtained from the meetings and present it to the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, interested parties that provide email addresses, and it will be published on our website at www.thinklocalfirst.net in late March.
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For further information please contact Ingrid Ault at (734) 730-6905 or at [email protected].
Official Website: http://www.thinklocalfirst.net
Added by annarborchronicle on February 17, 2010
Comments
phasor56
I have developed a system (LocalMart) which establishes a local currency and gives it an internet Ecommerce capability. Each vendor/provider gets a web site presence and shopping cart, with the local currency used for payment for online purchases. It also has the capability to make local currency payments or funds transfers via mobile phone, making the issuance of a paper local currency almost unnecessary. LocalMart encourages all members to become providers of some locally produced, sustainable product or service so as to increase local self sufficiency and "close the loop" locally. LocalMart allows conversion to and from the local currency to dollars, and has other features including a microloan capability and social networking site so that members can interact, form or join groups, and otherwise communicate.
I would like to begin to implement this and would welcome a discussion if there is any interest. My web sites are:
http://www.localmart.net/
http://www.local-currency.org/
http://www.thealternativeeconomy.org/
Bruce Colley
Lafayette, CA