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231:. The BerkShares website lists around 400 businesses in Berkshire County that accept the currency. Since launch, over 10 million BerkShares have been issued from participating branch offices of local banks (as of February 2020, nine branches of three different banks). The bills were designed by John Isaacs and were printed by Excelsior Printing on special paper with incorporated security features from
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The BerkShares program seeks to foster collaboration among producers, retail businesses, non-profit organizations, service providers and consumers. It is an attempt to strengthen the local economy. The program also seeks to increase public awareness of the importance of local economies and to foster
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Number of exchange points and businesses involved is steadily decreasing. As of 2024 there is six offices of two banks and just over 300 businesses accepting payments in BerkShares. The six bank offices exchange US Dollars for BerkShares at 1:1 rate. Businesses can convert BerkShares back to US
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BerkShares are a local currency designed and issued for the
Berkshire region of Massachusetts. As of 2013 according to the BerkShares website, residents purchased BerkShares at 95 cents (USD) per BerkShare from one of sixteen branches of four local participating banks. Businesses then accept
268:, increasing the local economic multiplier effect and keeping value recirculating in the region. If businesses have an excess of BerkShares, they may also be returned to a participating bank at the equivalent rate of 95 cents per BerkShare (i.e., charging no exchange fee).
264:, and community, and creating a five percent discount incentive for those using the currency. BerkShares can then be used by accepting businesses to purchase goods and services from other participating businesses, make change, pay salaries, or support local
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have all carried prominent stories on BerkShares. BerkShares were featured on the
History Channel program Ten things you didn't know , in addition to a 2016 episode of the podcast
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Dollars at the same rate with 1,5 % fee. Individuals can convert maximum of $ 5 equivalent with $ 0.5 fee. Membership in BerkShares costs 25 BerkShares or $ 25 annually.
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When someone pays for goods or services with local money, the income to the business is taxable. Similar to gift cards, the applicable
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Over 400 locally-owned businesses currently accept BerkShares for donations. Four participating banks provide BerkShares with 16
313:, co-founder of the community supported agriculture movement at Indian Line Farm in South Egremont, Massachusetts, died in 1997.
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https://archive.today/20090205232250/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iheOyI-EE_UMYu1FiKnpEbqzBcPAD95NOVE82
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BerkShares at full dollar value, differentiating the business as one supporting the BerkShares values of local economy,
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BerkShares are printed in 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 BerkShare denominations, and feature images of local people.
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offices where residents can exchange dollars for BerkShares and receive more information on the project.
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1139:"How to Print Dollars in Your Own Backyard and Keep Them Away from Wal-Mart"
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The website of the
Berkshares, Inc. the issuing organization of Berkshares
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722:"Terms and Conditions – BerkShares | Currency of the Berkshires Region"
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The BerkShares currency has attracted international media attention.
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optimism for the prospect of gaining local economic self-sufficiency.
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697:"Using BerkShares – BerkShares | Currency of the Berkshires Region"
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773:"THIS LAND - Would You Like That in Tens, Twenties or Normans?"
747:"Get Involved – BerkShares | Currency of the Berkshires Region"
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1092:"Communities print their own currency to keep cash flowing"
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A number of other local currency initiatives, such as the
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60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
865:"Some communities are printing their own currency"
626:"BerkShares boost the Berkshires in Massachusetts"
500:List of community currencies in the United States
456:is taken at the time of purchase and paid to the
905:New age town in U.S. embraces dollar alternative
672:"BerkShares | Currency of the Berkshires Region"
1065:"Making Money: Town Prints Up Its Own Currency"
144:Some BerkShares notes in various denominations.
611:"John Isaacs, Designer | BerkShares Inc"
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460:at the time of redemption by the merchant.
291:The 1 BerkShare note uses a portrait of a
843:"BerkShares Local Currency on BBC (2007)"
818:"BerkShares Local Currency on CBS (2007)"
651:"Local Currency for the Berkshire Region"
586:"Local Currency for the Berkshire Region"
544:"Local Currency for the Berkshire Region"
519:"Local Currency for the Berkshire Region"
333:The 50 BerkShare note uses a portrait of
316:The 20 BerkShare note uses a portrait of
309:The 10 BerkShare note uses a portrait of
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
521:. BerkShares. 2006-09-07. Archived from
298:The 5 BerkShare note uses a portrait of
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295:, the original inhabitants of the area.
1119:"Tough Times Lead to Local Currencies"
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1176:Local currencies of the United States
1117:Schwartz, Judith D. (July 13, 2009).
820:. YouTube. 2011-10-05. Archived from
229:Schumacher Center for a New Economics
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443:Can you live without a bank account?
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1063:Sy, Stephanie (February 26, 2007).
624:O'Brien, Jane (September 7, 2011).
1137:Solman, Paul (September 5, 2013).
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938:"BerkShares on NTV Moscow (2007)"
1090:Bello, Marisol (April 5, 2009).
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302:, a civil rights leader born in
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1181:Berkshire County, Massachusetts
797:"BerkShares on ABC News (2007)"
174:Berkshire County, Massachusetts
45:needs additional citations for
959:"Buy Local—With Town Currency"
1:
1191:Currencies introduced in 2006
354:Emulation and media attention
965:. 2007-07-18. Archived from
863:Jen Haley CNN (2009-04-22).
588:. BerkShares. Archived from
160:1, 5, 10, 20, 50 BerkShares
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339:Stockbridge, Massachusetts
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771:Barry, Dan (2007-02-25).
337:, a painter who lived in
328:Pittsfield, Massachusetts
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1186:Economy of Massachusetts
19:Not to be confused with
1035:"Stuff You Should Know"
845:. YouTube. 2012-02-29
439:Stuff You Should Know
419:French Television TF1
54:improve this article
1104:on October 16, 2014
1077:on January 19, 2016
1041:. December 26, 2016
994:on February 5, 2009
219:that circulates in
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890:has generic name (
492:Numismatics portal
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1145:September 6,
1143:. Retrieved
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653:. BerkShares
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635:September 6,
633:. Retrieved
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478:Money portal
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69:"BerkShares"
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52:Please help
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998:February 7,
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1170:Categories
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571:2016-07-31
550:2013-09-06
529:2013-09-06
506:References
435:Yahoo News
423:NTV Russia
245:US economy
223:region of
213:BerkShares
133:BerkShares
110:March 2021
80:newspapers
21:Berkshires
1097:USA Today
940:. YouTube
919:. YouTube
917:"YouTube"
880:cite news
867:. CNN.com
799:. YouTube
441:entitled
382:The Times
323:Moby-Dick
237:US dollar
157:Banknotes
25:Berkshire
1070:ABC News
1008:cite web
630:BBC News
464:See also
448:Taxation
184:Issuance
756:29 July
731:29 July
706:29 July
681:29 July
415:Reuters
345:Purpose
293:Mahican
258:ecology
241:pegging
202:Printer
170:User(s)
94:scholar
433:, and
366:, and
360:Dáanaa
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215:is a
101:JSTOR
87:books
1147:2013
1130:2013
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251:Use
178:USA
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