economics

This discussion turns to the theme of economics and the subject is Bay Bucks, the local currency circulating in the larger Traverse City region. Dave is joined by long time Bay Bucks advocate Sharon Flescher, discussing the reasoning behind the creation of a local currency, the seven year history of Bay Bucks and a look to future growth. Local currencies generate the full impact of their multiplier effect in the local economy. None of that economic value is exported to outside economic interests.  The key to that success is to get more and more of the local currency in use. Bay Bucks is set to push for another round of expansion.

Beginning with this show  OUTSIDE IN  becomes  ICR: Investigating Community Resilience. A new name reflecting a more direct link to our content. Bob Russell returns to look around at how the term is being used increasingly and to help clarify our focus. We also highlight web-based resources that showcase resilience work going on in other communities. This discussion also looks ahead at broad areas of success and need in resilience development locally.

In this week's program Jan Shireman and Gerard Grabowski join us to tell their story of a business that is a shining example of the all-local, farm to business to consumer economic model so important to building local food resilience. These two created Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery nearly two decades ago in search of a locally made, healthy bread and in the process became national leaders in the artisan bread movement. Pleasanton Bakery today employs nearly a dozen people in direct bakery jobs. Learn what makes their bread so different. Jan and Gerard share their dream of local sustainable agriculture and of ag-to-consumer businesses to support locally grown food. Only one of the grains they currently use comes from outside of Michigan, but the rest is grown on downstate farms. Gerard argues that northern Michigan needs to grow much more grain for local use, and develop its own milling facilities to turn the grains into flour.

Our second conversation with noted writer, economist, and historian Tom Greco continues with his major thesis: that our money system is built on a debt and interest structure that is corrosive and unsustainable. In this conversation Tom develops his view that the current money system mis-applies the three roles of money: to an instrument to transfer value, to be a measure of value, and to be an instrument holding value itself.  The transfer value of money must separated from the other two, argues Greco, by the development of credit clearing associations built carefully on a regional basis among mutual needs of the participants.

Tom Greco author of THE END OF MONEY AND THE FUTURE OF CIVILIZATION joins us for two half hour discussions on the history of money and the debt building pyramid- scheme modern money is based on. In this first discussion Greco puts modern money in its historic context and traces its growth to contemporary times where money is controlled by political elites through a interconnected array of national central banks. New money is created by creating debt, and interest is charged on the debt. The debt imperative of money creates a growth imperative in the economy which is destructive of our social fabric and our environment. Greco argues for creation of credit exchange associations, free corrosive effects of interest charged on debt, the topic we pick up in part two.

This discussion comes in two parts. Zach Liggett of Goldeneye Asset Management returns to update the concept of local investment clubs. Zach and Dave both participated in a webinar sponsored by BALLE focusing on one successful model of a local investment club making micro loans to small agricultural businesses: The No Small Potatoes Club of Maine.   The discussion outlines the rather straightforward process for establishing a club and micro loan model this club follows. Zach also outlines the opening discussion in the Local As Possible organization about following a  different model, one of matching small local investors with local entrepreneurs in need of capital through an educational outreach program.  Karen Browne, CEO of the TBA Credit Union comes in for the second half discussion about the role of credit unions, in keeping money local.

We wrap up our current discussion of placemaking and related issues with Harry Burkholder and Heather Seyfarth. Both are planners with Lands Information Access Association and involve in numerous community planning projects.  Economic development surveys reveal that "an attractive place with lots to do" is the prime reason the key, youthful demographic age grades communities need to attract to strengthen local social capital. Designing a place for people, making a place that is attractive to live in, is critical to small communities as well as large. All communities in a region need to attend to their design for people for the whole region's benefit. Burkholder and Seyfarth report on their experiences trying to develop a future vision amongst local leaders.

No other form of transportation is as energy efficient as "steel wheels on steel rails". Saving the few railroad tracks that serve northern Michigan is a must for our future resilience.  Bruckbauer points out that Michigan is really just getting a handle on it's rail needs with the current level of planning, and much more public support is needed to insure that the north gets the connections  and rail development it needs.  Just a few years ago the state was not looking at future rail plans at all, and only strong public showings at public comment sessions has kept the northern part of the state in the discussion at all. July 14 brings a panel discussion to the Traverse Area Public Library where current work on downstate rail improvements will be outline and discussed.  But, our rails connect downstate so what happens there matters here, and public interest and support  is critical to keeping the whole effort going.

This week's talk covers two topics, really. Gary Howe returns to outline Traverse City's application for a private grant from the PetSafe Company for the construction of a dog park at one of several possible locations in town. The grant application goes well as Traverse City is in the final group of 25 applicants. Voting for the winner begins July 13th on www.barkforyourpark.com. Check out that site to vote, and go to www.tcdogpark to connect with the local effort. Dog parks can be an effective example of 'placemaking'. Gary and Dave will fill out the discussion with a bigger picture look at 'placemaking' with a dog park being but one specific example.

The first ever Leelanau Peninsula bird watching festival, BirdFest, took place the first weekend of June. It is the latest entry onto a list of local festivals growing steadily. Bird watching festivals  are substantial economic engines in other parts of the country and with our local birding resource and expansive public lands bird watching should be added to our tourism brand. BirdFest organized multiple guided field trips, offered over several days, plus presentations each night of the event. The keynote address was by Paul Baicich, noted bird consultant and conservationist and author or editor of numerous books and journal articles. Baicich joins Dave on the front porch of historic Fountain Point Resort for this discussion of why birds matter, where they fit in our social-ecological community, and why bird festivals are a good idea.