Northern New York Pilot
Why Northern New York
- Rural with many smaller towns and villages, a good contrast to the Ottawa, CA pilot
- Strong family connections, often extending over several generations and across nearby communities
- Many NNY families are being "squeezed" as costs for food, home energy, transportation, and credit rise faster than family incomes. Especially true for those families with long commutes to work and shopping and yet driving vehicles with relatively high costs of operation.
- Many NNY families now rely for most of their food from corporate food outlets that are at the ends of corporate supply chains, so often higher costs.
- Yet, many families have valuable resources necessary to reducing costs, e.g., space for solar and gardens, and many have expertise helpful for do-it-yourself projects.
- Strong community organizations and credit unions
- A tradition of self-reliance and "simple" lifestyles