About TLC Monadnock

The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock is a community-based crowdfunding platform that empowers individuals to support the businesses, organizations, and initiatives that grow wealthier and healthier communities in our region.

Crowdfunding is the practice of sourcing small contributions from a large number of people to provide funding for a particular project or campaign, usually via the Internet.

TLC Monadnock is a collaboration of regional economic development organizations working together to increase access to capital to both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors throughout the region.

TLC Monadnock’s Mission: 
We 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.

Our Vision:
We envision a region:

• Rich in collaboration, with strong connections and partnerships between business resource organizations, regional investors, and the communities in which they reside -- connections that are reflected in our sustainable business development proposals. 
• With a robust and resilient local economy with a strong system that supports local investments, leverages capital, and offers complete funding packages to new and growing businesses. 
• With strong positive social and regional economic impacts as a result of the new partnerships forged, businesses started, jobs created, local dollars spent, and increased regional business-to-business networking and support. 
• Where residents gain a new way to connect with local businesses, through their understanding of and support for this novel approach to raising capital. 
  

This vision aligns with and supports the goals of the Monadnock Region Future plan which calls for a competitive and prospering regional economy that creates diverse opportunities for current and future residents and workers.

Our History:

TLC Monadnock leverages the power of crowdfunding to to make wonderful ideas happen -- projects that support a local, green and fair economy in the Monadnock region.  We help businesses and community-based projects find access to capital.

We started TLC Monadnock in 2017 as part of a two-year study to build support networks for entrepreneurs in rural communities.  During our pilot, we focused on five communities most economically impacted by the closure of Vermont Yankee, a nuclear power plant.

The Vermont Yankee closing caused the loss of 176 high paying jobs in our region and a ripple effect that reduced economic activity by $30 million annually. We wanted to demonstrate that instead of recruiting businesses from outside the region to make up for this loss, we could empower community members to support values-aligned businesses based here.

We gave preference to campaigns aligned with our regional master plan and contributed to a healthy, just, safe and environmentally sustainable community. We supported efforts to build more resilient communities, including campaigns that focused on sustainable agriculture, local art, renewable energy and alternative transportation.  As of January 2019, we raised $93,402 from 727 supporters for 14 crowdfunding campaigns.

When our pilot ended in 2018, we were one of four communities invited to participate in a second study called TLC 4SE (pronounced Force) Incubator.  This project will build on our initial success and support social entrepreneurs through crowdfunding, education and additional support. We will also provide additional support to campaign leaders from underserved communities and campaigns addressing systemic community issues in innovative ways.  TLC Monadnock also expanded to include all towns in the Monadnock region and beyond.

Currently, TLC Monadnock is hosted by Monadnock Food Co-op, and managed by a team of volunteer business advisors.  Our partners include NH Small Business Development Center, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Monadnock Economic Development Corporation.

The pilot phase of this project was funded in part by a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation's Elting E. Morison Fund and the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Questions?  Please contact Jen Risley at marketing@monadnockfood.coop or 603-283-5401.

Learn more about what it takes to carry out a TLC Monadnock Crowdfunding Campaign.