Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

Great news!  The Local Crowd Monadnock (TLC Monadnock), a locally based crowdfunding platform, will extend beyond its pilot phase.  While TLC Monadnock will continue to host crowdfunding campaigns based in Keene and seven other towns in the region, the question that we’re asking our community right now is: Should it expand to serve the entire region? So far, thirty-one of you voted “Yes!” by contributing $5 - $500 to our TLC Monadnock crowdfunding campaign.

VOTE YES!

Our goal is to raise at least $2,500 by Monday, December 10.  The more support our community contributes, the more towns we’ll include in the program next year. We will use this funding to cover the platform fees for 2019 and jumpstart our efforts to transform TLC Monadnock into a pollinator enterprise, a self-funding enterprise committed to supporting local businesses.

Past campaign leaders expressed support for continuing TLC Monadnock. Marty Castriotta of Village Roots Permaculture Farm in Alstead raised over $11,000 through TLC Monadnock for a barn raising at his family’s CSA farm.  The barn will house animals in the winter and provide space to host educational workshops during other parts of the year.

"TLC Monadnock made it possible for us to embrace the idea of asking our community to support our cause and our project," said Marty.  "Within two weeks of launching our campaign, with the tremendous support of TLC, we raised the funds needed to complete our barn."

Locally owned businesses have also demonstrated their support by donating awesome rewards to thank community members for their support.  Thank you to Walpole Mountain View Winery, MB Massage Studio, Monadnock Food Co-op, The Works Café, New England Everyday Goods, Cheshire Garden, New Dawn Farm, Yoga with Josephine and Stonewall Farm for contributing rewards to our campaign.  See all the rewards on the right side of our campaign page. 

Please join with others in our community to continue to leverage the power of crowdfunding to cultivate a stronger ecosystem of investors, service providers and local economy champions investing in a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region. You can contribute to our crowdfunding campaign regardless of where you live.  

Contribute to this campaign online today

Checks can be made out to Monadnock Buy Local and mailed to The Local Crowd Monadnock, c/o Monadnock Buy Local, 63 Emerald Street PMB #114, Keene, NH 03431.

More about TLC Monadnock

TLC Monadnock is a locally based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region.  Crowdfunding, or the practice of raising funds to support a project from a large number of people, is a viable alternative to recruiting businesses from outside the region to boost economic activity.

This project is part of a two-year research study funded by a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to gauge this platform's effectiveness in rural areas.  During its pilot phase (that ends January 1, 2019), TLC Monadnock will only accept campaign proposals from businesses, organizations or community initiatives based in Alstead, Jaffrey, Keene, Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Peterborough, Swanzey or Winchester.  TLC Monadnock gives preference to campaigns that align with their respective city or town's master plan and contribute to a local, green and fair economy.

Discover more details and updates at monadnocklocal.org/tlc or contact Jen Risley at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com or 603-499-7950. 

TLC Monadnock is currently hosted by Monadnock Buy Local and supported by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, New Hampshire Small Business Development Center, Monadnock Food Co-op and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.