The End of Disastrous Community Investing

The End of Disastrous Community Investing

The current approach to community investing, which often aims to homogenize all areas into replicas of middle-class suburbs, is not without its drawbacks. However, a more community-centric approach, which respects each neighborhood's unique characteristics and needs, can bring significant benefits to residents and investors seeking a return.

Rewind twenty years or so, and each community had its own vibe, flavor, and values. The stores, restaurants, and dress in a fishing village significantly differed from those of a rural farming community. The core problem is that most investors have an agenda for how these communities should look, act, and shop—one based on their experience and not the people who live in the community.

For example, only some people need or want a mortgage. Safe multifamily communities may be the best option. Furthermore, helping local eateries and stores can be more advantageous than an exhaustive list of corporate franchises. The focus should be on the needs and wants of the people inside the community being helped. Not only is this most effective for lifting people out of poverty, but it also provides the highest return.

The vision of Banananomics is to enhance communities while maintaining their unique characteristics. When done correctly, we get a self-sustaining community that the current population enjoys as much as the newcomers. It is a place that others want to visit, eat, and shop at—something unique that does not match the boring appearance of most modern neighborhoods.

Imagine a scenario where the community has the power to shape its own destiny, determining the manufacturing, shops, restaurants, and housing options available. This can be achieved through a democratic process where residents vote with their dollars, influencing the local economy and the services they receive. By including education options for jobs that exist in that area and empowering local entrepreneurs with training and investment, the community can provide the products and services desired by those who live there.

Let us know if you want to learn more about this investing approach or if you know of a community that would benefit from respectful investing. We can share the prospectus with accredited investors.