Although new to many, this is the fifth year our region will celebrate Move Your Money: Bank Local, Invest Local Month in April.  We invite you to join The Local Crowd Monadnock and communities across the United States and discover new ways to move your money from Wall Street to Main Street. 

If you’re a fan already—and have shifted some or all of your savings to a community bank or credit union—you might ask, now what? Please read on!

If you’re new to this movement, here’s a bit of background.

What’s Move Your Money Month?

Each April, we double down and serve up all the inspiration we can find to motivate more of us to move our money closer to home—by banking with a community bank or credit union and investing in locally owned businesses and community.  When you bank locally, more of your dollars recirculate throughout our local economy—building more local jobs and prosperity.

“At local banks and credit unions, loan approvals and other key decisions are made locally by people who live in the community, have face-to-face relationships with their customers, and understand local needs,” said Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.  “Because of this personal knowledge, local financial institutions are often able to approve small business and other loans that big banks would reject.”

Discover a local bank 

You Already Bank Locally. What’s Next?

Here’s one innovative idea from author and local economist Michael Shuman: Move your money by investing in your home!

“Would you be willing to invest in a low-risk local option that delivers a 22% annual return over the next decade?” Michael asked. That’s exactly what he decided to do. 

“My wife and I moved to Palm Springs, California,” he continued.  “After tax credits, we invested $22,000 in a rooftop solar system (without batteries).  We reckon that each year, we have avoided about $7,000 in utility bills. By the end of 2025, the system will have just about paid for itself. By the end of year ten, we will have saved $48,000 from our $22,000 initial investment, which works out to a 22% rate of return annually.”

Keep in mind that Michael lives in the desert, where his home cooling costs are much higher than ours here in New Hampshire. How does the return on investment translate here?

“Unlike traditional financial investments, a solar investment has many different returns,” said Thomas Tutor, Solar Design Specialist at Revision Energy. “For instance, a solar electric array will increase the value of your home and lower the cost of ownership. Additionally, the money you spend on a solar project flows back into your local economy, rather than going towards importing fossil fuel energy from out of state. The environmental return on investment is hard to quantify, but reducing air and carbon pollution helps your community immediately.”

Learn more 

Homegrown Help is Here

Not sure how to best invest your dollars in your home? Or can’t come up with all the money needed to carry out a project? Great news! There’s help locally to make your solar and energy-efficiency dreams come true.    

The Monadnock Sustainability Hub (The Hub) recently rolled out the Electrify Monadnock Fund, a homegrown rebate program that empowers low- to moderate-income Monadnock Region residents to make their homes cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient by supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. When you sign up for the program, one of the Hub’s Home Energy Coaches will reach out and help you get started.

“The Hub Coaching program is about more than just technical expertise,” said Rachel Ranelli, The Hub’s Program Manager. “Volunteer coaches act as mentors, guiding their neighbors through what can often be a confusing and costly process. Coaching is especially beneficial for those who may feel uncertain about where to start or how to manage the financial aspects of electrification. With guidance from local experts, homeowners can make informed, sustainable choices that enhance both their home’s efficiency and their overall quality of life.” 

Thanks to the many coaches, volunteers, and donors who support the Electrify Monadnock Fund, you may be eligible to receive up to $7,000 in rebates for home energy-efficiency projects.  You and your coach may decide that installing solar panels, heat pumps, and electric appliances may be in your future. Or perhaps a weatherization project, electrical panel upgrades, or an electric vehicle is a better fit. 

Start the application process today 

Also, if you’re interested in donating to the Electrify Monadnock Fund—and investing in the future of this program, donate today!

Connect with Coaches and Contractors

The Hub invites you to their Electrify Monadnock Fund Launch Event on Saturday, May 30, from 10 am to 12 pm at Keene Public Library’s Heberton Hall. Meet The Hub’s Home Energy Coaches, who can help with the application process and connect with local contractors offering energy-efficiency products and services. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited.

RSVP today

Get even more inspired to move your money in April (and beyond).  Subscribe to The Main Street Journal, a free weekly online newsletter published by local economist Michael Shuman. The Main Street Journal aims to inspire more people to shift a portion of their savings and investments from Wall Street to Main Street.

Subscribe today 

Invest more of your dollars in the banks and businesses you love in our community, and join a growing movement prioritizing people, planet, and profit.