What is “Local Economy” anyway?

Local Economy is a community resilience hub where neighbors can find each other and share ideas and resources. We’re supported by people just like you who fund the space directly through memberships. These memberships work like they do with public radio: that is to say, they make the space available for everyone. They also let us design programming that is truly inclusive and accessible to all.

So…it’s a club?

Sort of. But an open door, inclusive club, where the goal is to include more people in our circles of care, concern, and understanding. 

How much does it cost to become a member?

We’re offering three levels of membership—$20, $50, and $100 per month—which you can read about here. Here’s how we thought about pricing: it costs about as much as a no-frills gym membership. But we know that’s not nothing in this economy, and we recognize that not everyone will be able to swing it. That’s OK. We’re here to make it work and we know there are a lot of ways to contribute to a community space. Student? Social worker? Artist? Between gigs? Just reach out to us at hi@thelocaleconomy.com. We’ll work something out. NOTAFLOF!

How many people are members?

About 700!

When are you open?

We’re open from Tuesday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4pm. There are also many evening events and things happening on the weekends.

What are you going to be doing in the space? 

You know that scene in Ferris Bueller, where Ferris picks up Cameron at school for their day in the city, and he says, “The question isn't, What are we going to do? The question is, What aren't we going to do?" It’s like that.

We wrote this before we actually were doing anything, but you can check out our events page and it is undeniably true. At the one year mark, we’ve done 227 events (!!) since we opened October 1, 2025.

Can I host an event/meeting/something in your space?

Maybe! If you want to work directly with us to create an event at Local Economy, we’re excited to talk with you. Just get in touch at hi@thelocaleconomy.com. The space is ideal for events and workshops of 15-60 people, but it can be set up in a variety of different ways. 

If you’ve already got an organization and you want to rent the space as a venue, we’re open to that, too, but know that it’s pretty rare, given how much programming we already have.

Are all the events in the space going to be free for members? 

Most events are free for members, but there are a variety of artists, creatives, teachers, and others who want to host workshops and do other things as part of their work. We want them to get paid. Our commitment is to offer the space at the lowest possible cost to people in the community, and to make sure that we’re fostering a healthy ecosystem around LE. 

Are there going to be members-only events?

Yes, but not very many.

I don’t have the money right now to join, but I want to be a part of the community. Would it be possible to do some kind of volunteering in exchange for a membership?

Totally. Get in touch with us at hi@thelocaleconomy.com and just tell us a bit about your situation and we’ll figure out something that feels mutually good.

Who funds this thing? 

It’s just us, partners in life and community, Sarah Rich and Alexis Madrigal, working through the Department of Invisible Labor LLC. 

So, you’re not a non-profit? 

Nope. And we don’t intend to become one. In our ideal scenario, this idea works as a simple small business that generates much-needed community.

We have considered some different governance options for members, as you often see in long-established clubs. So far, though, it seems to be working the way we’re doing it.

If I’m a member, can I work in the space when it’s open? 

Yup. We’re shying away from calling this a coworking space because…we don’t really want people doing Zoom calls and setting up their monitors and keyboards, you know? But we DO want people to feel like they can get free from the isolation of working from home or crammed into corners at coffeeshops. Our general rule here is: if you would do a kind of work in a coffee shop, you could almost certainly do that work at Local Economy. 

This is also an area where we’re very open to feedback and will evolve to serve our community best. 

Is there a family membership? 

Not exactly. We’re hoping that families choose the “FAM” option, if there is more than one person who is planning to use the space a lot. But we’re not being intense about it. Use your discretion, you know?