Scotland Community Wealth Building Act
Godspeed: good fortune; success (used as a wish to a person starting on a journey, a new venture, etc.)
I’ve been working, in one facet or another, for the better part of four decades to build community here in Boise and beyond.
(Shaking head as to how four decades could even be a realized concept in my own professional timeline.)
I started nonprofits. Joined national movements. I used my platform and resources, small as they are, to advocate for better ways of treating people and respecting the earth, usually by redirecting the power of business to accomplish these aims.
One such effort in 2008 was helping to start “Think Boise First,” an initiative to support independent businesses that were truly local, as these small enterprises are the ones that truly add character and long-term investment for a community.
Think Boise First started with a bang – then we expanded our offerings too quickly, overhead outpaced revenue, and finally were put to bed by the financial crisis 2008 and its lingering woes. It didn’t take too much longer for non-local businesses to realize the power of claiming “local” and begin their own version of “local washing.”
Recently, I became aware of interesting legislation in Scotland called “Community Wealth Building Act of 2026.”
The Community Wealth Building act intends to improve the health and prosperity of communities through five pillars:
- Spending (Procurement): Public bodies (like councils and health boards) are now legally required to prioritize local small businesses and cooperatives when awarding contracts.
- Workforce: It promotes "Fair Work" and mandates that public investment supports local jobs and vocational training.
- Land and Assets: The law makes it easier for community groups to take ownership of vacant or derelict land and buildings for social or environmental benefit.
- Finance: It encourages "socially productive" use of financial power, ensuring more money circulates within the local economy rather than flowing out to distant shareholders.
- Inclusive Ownership: It supports the growth of "democratic" business models, such as employee-owned companies and social enterprises.
The above are all abbreviated from more detailed language that constitutes the Act, which you can read in its entirety here.
Many of these are tenets that guided Think Boise First and the (at the time) burgeoning local living economies movement in the U.S. And if I were to draw a Venn diagram, there would be a bulging overlap with the values and principles required for B Corp certification.
One major difference: All of the above are voluntary, and this act requires “local authorities and relevant public bodies” to prepare a community wealth plan and then publish regular reports on steps taken and impact created.
Each of us likely works in ways that support actions like this – in our neighborhoods, through our work, and in our advocacy of causes that go well beyond our community.
Some businesses are regenerative, while others are extractive. Wouldn’t it be great to organize and work within our local communities for a platform to support regeneration, either by banding together to jumpstart it ourselves or by applying friendly pressure to governmental bodies incentivize and reward these community-building enterprises?
Thanks to Graham Hall for making me aware of the Scotland Community Wealth Building Act.
And lastly, a question: Are you aware of similar efforts elsewhere?
Godspeed, friends.
Russ
P.S. I’ll be taking a sojourn the next couple of weeks to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with my daughter and my grandkids. This will be my 85th trip on the Middle Fork, and my first with my grandkids. So, like the song says, “See You in September.”
🤔 Think About It
“When you increase productivity, economies become better – local economies become better, society becomes better.” Jensen Huang, founder and CEO, Nvidia.
💥 Quick Hits
- Local business invests capital no one measures – A great piece from the Local Business Institute that illustrates the hidden investment of local businesses in your community.
- A free online course – Here's your opportunity to learn about how to create a Wellbeing Economy with a free online course provided by a collaboration of changemakers working together to transform the economic system.
- Is your community economically nutritious? – I've been following Shorefast for awhile now, an organization forged up in Canada to build prosperous economies that serve people, nature, and culture in local places. I'm especially captivated by their idea of "Economic Nutrition." Check it out.
A Poem For You
I haven't written about poetry for awhile - nor included a poem - so thought with today's photo of me at our flower farm this warranted a read:
All Things Scottish
Oh, I'm really sensing a thread developing in the latter stages of this issue, whereby I'm piggybacking on stories mentioned earlier (see flowers above). Keeping that in mind, and in homage to Scotland's Community Wealth Act (and my own Scottish roots), here's a classic skit from Saturday Night Live. All hail Mike Myers!