Local communities are being battered when trying to compete with an ever shrinking world market. Transportation of goods, manufacturing, and services are becoming cheaper, and businesses are taking advantage of this. With recession further emphasizing a business’ bottom line, outsourcing supplies and services overseas is common. Local communities however, are not going down without a fight. When a person’s way of life is threatened and their back is against the wall, people get creative.

During the great depression, communities printed their own money to allow locals to continue purchasing goods and to keep the economy running in their community. Banks did not have cash on hand, so the locals took it upon themselves to find a solution to their problems. With the economic recession we are currently in, this 1920 stimulus is having a revival. Communities in New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, and others print and circulate their own currency. Detroit for example, prints the Detroit Cheers. One might think this is illegal to do, but by law, local money cannot resemble federal dollars or be used as legal tender of the United States. The local currency is typically bought at a lower value than the federal currency, for example you would pay ten federal dollars for nine local currency dollars. The extra dollar is most likely used to pay for administration and the actual printing of the local dollars. Local stores accept the local dollars and pay taxes with federal money. Stores are easily able to give customers a discount if paid in local dollars. Since only the local stores accept the converted money, currency is kept locally.

The spread of globalization is increasing, but the appeal of local business is finding little niches. Vegetables and fruits marked ‘Grown Locally’ are being posted at an increasing rate, as well as restaurant entrée’s ingredients calling for only specific local ingredients. Business’s purposely market their use of local suppliers in hopes that customers will purchase their wares. As locals jobs are lost to overseas companies, protectionist ideals and policies will gain popularity sparking local growth.

As the recession gets deeper, the American people will get increasingly innovative to flourish. No recession is so dark, that the American Spirit cannot shine.