ARCHIVAL REFLECTION #3: The Community's Need for an Economy

Community Service, which became The Arthur Morgan Institute for Community Solutions in 2009, was founded in 1940 by Arthur Morgan. November 14th, 2020 marks our 80th anniversary! As part of our celebration of our 80th anniversary, we’ll be posting 7 archival reflections, as well as our vision for the future. This is the third post in this series. 

Part of Community Solutions' legacy is considering how to maintain resilient communities and how economic decisions factor into that work. One way to strengthen the local, or what Arthur Morgan would have called the "Small Community," is to keep as many of our dollars as possible circulating locally.

In 1969, Griscom Morgan wrote "The Community's Need for an Economy" in the Community Comments newsletter, and we think his advice still holds up in 2020: "But it is not enough to keep money in the community; it must circulate there, it must be used for the most needed investment, exchanges and employment in the community. [...] After a dollar of income comes into the community the more often it is used for needed exchange within the community, before it leaves for payment to the outside world, the more it will give income to community members for their employment and wealth."

We encourage our readers to think about ways in which they can keep their dollars local this holiday season, and in doing so, help invest in and maintain a strong local economy.

Written by Sheryl Cunningham, Community Solutions Board President