The Hudson Valley Current
A local currency for our region
by David McCarthy, tongdrol@gmail.com
Local currencies are springing up all over the world as part of an
effort by citizens to empower their own communities and regions economically. A
small group of planners (including Country
Wisdom News publisher Chris Hewitt) has been working
behind the scenes for over a year now to create a local currency for the Hudson
Valley. It will be a dollar- equivalent, printed currency similar to the
successful Berkshares (www.berkshares.org)
in nearby Western Massachusetts.
Our organizing efforts so far have been mainly in Ulster County, but we
plan to expand outward to our seven-county target region of the Mid-Hudson
Valley, namely Ulster, Dutchess, Greene, Columbia, Orange, Putnam, and Sullivan
counties. This region has a population of over a million people!
Why create a local currency? The basic intentions are to foster a sense
of economic community, build a regional focus, and encourage everyone to do
business with locally owned companies. Launching the Hudson Valley Current is
very much a community process, both in terms of the planning and design work
involved, but also just in spreading the word and getting businesses and
individuals interested and excited about the idea.
We plan vibrant visual designs that highlight the rich heritage of the
Hudson Valley. You are warmly invited to get involved with this project at any
level! See our website (hudsonvalleycurrent.org) for contact information or
send an email to hvcurrency@yahoo.com.
Posted by Chris Hewitt
on 12:44 PM.
Filed under
buy local,
Hudson Valley Current,
Local Economy
.
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