Mobilize your community's investors in 2023
V.2, N.14
Interested in getting your friends and neighbors interested in local investment? For the past two years, I’ve led workshops called “Local Investment 101” for groups of 50-100 students in Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington State. Students get access to 15 videos that introduce local investment concepts, and then come together weekly online for four 90-minute sessions. If you’re interested in sponsoring a workshop in your region – or would just like to watch the videos on your own – please check out the details here or email me at shuman@igc.org.
Our most recent workshop was a smash success. It was led by Andrew Conner from Montana who has been inspired to launch his own educational initiative called the Local Investing Action Network. Those of you who want to join a twelve-month learning cohort with others across the country, take a look at our lead article below.
Also in this issue: a summary of cool developments in the crowdfunding industry across the world (including some exciting proposed JOBS Act reforms); another analysis of how residents in mobile-home communities (there are 22 million in the United States) are taking ownership of their “parks” to invest in more climate resilient infrastructure; the emergence of community land trusts in southern California (Los Angeles County has six); and a review of how the Rush University System for Health in Chicago has been using their powers of hiring, purchasing, and investment to reduce public health disparities in the city.
With Congress unlikely to legislate anytime in the near future, the action is moving back to communities. What better way to celebrate the new year than to join one of these initiatives – or to launch one yourself in your own backyard.
– Michael Shuman, Publisher, The Main Street Journal
NEWS
Introducing: The Local Investing Action (LIA) Network, The Center for Community Ownership (December 23)
The Biggest Crowdfunding Stories Of 2022, Crowdfund Insider (January 2)
Resident-Owned Communities Intersect Housing And Climate Justice, Prism (January 4)
Long Beach Pursues A Community Land Trust, Long Beach Business Journal (January 2)
The Anchor Strategy – A Place-Based Business Approach For Health Equity, The New England Journal of Medicine (January 7)
PARTNER VOICES
Public Pharmaceuticals: State Policy Toolkit, Democracy Collaborative (December 2022)
Developing Regional Fiber Systems To Build Ecosystem And Community Health, The Kassan Group (January 3)
New California Law Promotes Worker-Owned Businesses, Project Equity featured in Marketplace (January 6)
Community Ownership of Real Estate: A Los Angeles Story, Nonprofit Quarterly (December 21)
EVENTS
Lending to Cooperative Businesses – Webinar. Wednesday, January 18, 1pm ET. This webinar training will focus on how lenders can expand their reach into the employee-owned business sector, specifically worker cooperatives. This is a growing market for business transition financing, working capital loans, and other credit products. The session is presented by Shared Capital, with support from Project Equity. Register here.
Remaking the Economy: Black Food Sovereignty, Community Stories – Webinar. Wednesday, January 25, 2-3pm ET. What does the struggle for Black food sovereignty look like at the local level? Join the conversation as Black food justice leaders from four communities – one from Mississippi, two from North Carolina, and one from New Jersey – share their experiences. Participants will discuss the interconnections between food sovereignty, racial and economic justice, and community building. Register here.
Total Impact Summit 2023: Investing for People, Planet, and Place – In-Person Conference (30 South 17th Street Philadelphia, PA) Monday, May 1, 8am – Tuesday, May 2, 5:30pm. A two-day, dynamic event for individual investors, family offices, foundations, fund managers, and financial advisors to connect with aligned peers and partners, learn about proven and new investment tools, meet leaders of investable opportunities, and move toward action and investment. See FAQ here.
ICYMI
Higher Ed Labor Organizing Is Just Getting Started, The Nation (January 6)
Lina Khan: Noncompetes Depress Wages And Kill Innovation, The New York Times (January 9)
Preserving Labor History In The Present, For The Future, YES! Magazine (December 20)
California State Budget Goes All In On CDFIs, Next City (December 28)
JOBS BOARD
Fair Food Network is hiring a Director of Double Up Food Bucks Michigan.
Mission Driven Finance is hiring multiple positions.
BECOME A MAIN STREET CHAMPION
Have you always wanted to start a local investment club? A website of local investment offerings in your community? A local investment study group? Whatever your interest or ambition, we invite you to “go public” to help others in your region find you, scheme with you, and start a local investment movement in your community. Our goal is to identify dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of Main Street Champions like you across America. We already have Main Street Champions across the U.S., from San Luis Obispo, CA to Providence, RI, and even Australia! Together, we can move our hard-earned savings from Wall Street back into our communities. Fill out the intake survey below to join this growing cohort!
SOME OF MSJ’s VINTAGE ISSUES
About The Main Street Journal
The Main Street Journal aims to catalyze the movement of $50 trillion from Wall Street to Main Street to facilitate economic development and economic justice. It’s sponsored by the National Coalition for Community Capital, with a grant from the Heron Foundation. We welcome feedback about everything, from our design to content. And we welcome suggestions of other groups to involve as partners, and other information to include. Please send ideas to Sophia Leswing at sophia@main-street-journal.com.
PARTNERS
We welcome any nonprofit or for-profit committed to local investment as a partner. If your organization is interested, please contact Sophia Leswing at sophia@main-street-journal.com.