The Business Beat: Susan Witt

BerkShares are a local currency for the Berkshire region.

Dubbed a "great economic experiment" by the New York Times, BerkShares are a tool for community empowerment, enabling merchants and consumers to plant the seeds for an alternative
economic future for their communities.

Launched in the fall of 2006, BerkShares had a robust initiation, with over 1 million BerkShares having been circulated in the first 9 months and over 2 million to date.  

Currently, more than 360 businesses have signed up to accept the currency.

Five different banks have partnered with BerkShares, with a total of 13 branch offices now serving as exchange stations.

For BerkShares, this is only the beginning. 

Future plans could involve BerkShare checking accounts, electronic transfer of funds, ATM machines, and even a loan program to facilitate the creation of new, local businesses manufacturing more of the goods that are used locally.