# Local Currency Keeps Community Vibrant By Trend Huntress | Published 2007-07-17 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/local-currency-keeps-community-vibrant References: [berkshares.org](http://www.berkshares.org/) Western Massachusetts communities in the Southern Berkshire Mountains wanted to promote [local merchants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shop-aberdeen) and keep money circulating within their local economy. So they developed their [own currency](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/frontier-stable-token). Bolstered by locally owned banks, "Berkshares" are redeemable at participating area businesses. The value of a Berkshare is 90 cents on the dollar. When local residents purchase Berkshares at participating banks, they are saving 10% and supporting the local economy. Since Berkshares can only be used within the community, the economy prospers from the [local patronage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shop-local-by-tiktok-shop). Berkshares are printed on security paper at a local printing business. They are issued in five denominations: 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s, and 50s. Images on the currency feature heroes of the area - the Stockbridge Mohican Tribe, Norman Rockwell, Herman Melville, W.E.B. DuBois, and Robin van En. In the first three months since their debut last October, over $300,000 of Berkshares had been purchased from banks. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 19% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/commercials) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Local Currency:** Opportunity for other communities to create their own currency for boosting local economy. - **Community Currency:** More community-based currencies could increase circulation of funds and contribute to localized economic growth. - **Local Patronage:** Encouraging local patronage may become a more appealing selling point for small businesses that cannot compete with larger national chains. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Banking:** Banks can expand services by incorporating regional currencies and innovative payment options for their customers. - **Printing:** The production of local currencies and the security features required offer opportunities to innovative printing companies and security specialists. - **Small Business:** Small businesses can benefit from using localized currency to appeal to customers for community support and growth. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Localized eCommerce Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecommerce-marketplaces.md) - [Vote-Encouraging Coin Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electoral-coins.md) - [Low-Cost Shirt Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1p-shop.md) - [Canadiana-Themed Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grizzly-bar.md) - [Money-Inspired Footwear Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-concepts-x-new-balance-1000.md) - [Civic-Led Buy Local Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/love-local.md) - [Innovative Bitcoin Bourbons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bitcoin-bourbon.md) - [Kids' Money Management Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/financial-awareness.md) - [Community-Centric E-Commerce Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/accessible-digital-tools.md)