What are Island Hours?  Island Hours are local currency that promote local economic strength and community self-reliance in ways that   support economic growth, social justice, community and human aspirations on Long Island, New York. Island Hours help to keep money local, building the Long Island economy, and also build community pride and connections. [Click to learn more]

Who's using Island Hours?  Local businesses and individuals who have products, services and talents to trade, all of whom looking for a way to protect themselves from the rampant threats of inflation that are constantly stealing our hard-earned wealth. Just because The U.S. Dollar is going down doesn't mean we have to go down with it. [Click to learn more]

Why should I use Island Hours?  Because 1-They are a protection against the inflation of The U.S. Dollar; 2-It’s good for your business as being listed in our Business Directory (find above) provides customers who have Island Hours to spend, and are looking for businesses that take them, a place to help Local businesses survive in this fiscally calamitous environment. [Click to learn more]

Who else is using Island Hours?  Click above where it says 'Business Directory'. On that page you will find a list of businesses and individuals with talents to offer who are using Island Hours to help themselves and the community sail the rough tides that are impacting our economy.

Are Island Hours even legal?  Of Course they are. Similar currencies thrive in dozens of communities around the US & in his book, Rethinking Our Centralized Monetary System, Law professor Lewis Solomon stated that there is no legal prohibition to creating a local currency system in the United States. The IRS, FBI, US Secret Service, Federal Reserve and Treasury Department have all declared the printing and use of local currencies to be legal.

Where can I get some Island Hours?  We're glad you asked that question. The most common way to acquire Island Hours is to become a goods or service provider and advertise.  Other ways are to ask for them as change when shopping at stores that accept them. Exchange your federal dollars for them from a trader who has an excess supply or accept them as payment for your labor or goods. You can even ask your employer to consider accepting Island Hours by agreeing to accept them as a percentage of your regular pay. Just click here to learn more and have all of your questions answered.

Island Hours Help When Times Are Tough

No one on Long Island is in doubt to how tough things are these days. With the housing and credit crises, record oil prices and now soaring food prices things are getting worse for us here and nothing on the horizon seems to be harkening to something better. It's time to change that, and that's what Island Hours are for.

You may be reserved about using Island Hours over dollars, but in the long run, if government policies stay the same, the reality is that dollars are going to keep getting inflated which will push up the price on everything you rely on.

That’s where local currency comes in. Unlike dollars, it is money that stays in the community which you spend with your neighbors. It stays here--on Long Island--for you to earn back. Meanwhile, you build the local economy, helping those who will help you back.

It's money based on sharing, not scarcity. You make it just by joining and then you have a community of places to spend it, and willing customers who want to do business with you.

You can get started with Hours right now just by contacting us (or maybe, we'll contact you), so if you have any questions about how Island Hours can help you please contact us and help us save the island that we all love and call home.