Chain stores and other large corporate enterprises often compete with local businesses and draw money out of communities. Interra is a project that creates local spending cards that offer discounts to buyers, loyalty programs to merchants, and enables buyers to allocate part of their transactions to local community projects:

Boston Community Change, for example:

Last November, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino proudly announced Boston Community Change, a collaboration between the Interra Project, a nonprofit organization working to serve communities everywhere, and Boston Main Streets. Every day, Boston Community Change cardholders are using their cards at participating neighborhood businesses to get cash rewards and generate donations for local nonprofits.

Through everyday transactions at participating merchants, Interra community cardholders receive cash rewards while directing money to designated local nonprofits or schools. These simple transactions help to channel money back through the local economy and positively contribute to the community’s overall quality of life.