Capitol Hill Community Council

Here is how it works:
Many communities have printed their own currency in an effort to encourage consumers to spend in their neighborhood.
A dollar note that acts as a 10%discount (excluding alcohol) at participating businesses will encourage business and visitors to the area.
For a business to participate, all they have to do is post a bill in their doorway to let consumers know they honor the discount. They can honor a 10% discount or a full face value of $1.
As most businesses know, coupons actually encourage more spending.

The discount bill can be copied by anyone and reuse is encouraged. Only one use per visit is listed. The bill is hoped slowly will become self perpetuating by businesses that want to put out an attractive discount coupon.
Businesses can stamp their business name on the back for advertisement and to encourage consumers back as well as serving as an interesting way to track the life of the bill.

The coupon bill would be initially printed and distributed by the council to organizations, businesses, tourism and residents.

Lets hear your feedback.

A suggested example with former Capitol Hill resident Actress Frances Farmer.

Here is a link to some great examples of community currency. Again, the proposed
"Capitol Hill Bill" will be a 10% off coupon with participating businesses.
http://www.complementarycurrency.org/gallery.php

It appears this bill idea has at least got people talking about what symbolizes and represents Capitol Hill.

It is now being considered that a new "Capitol Hill Bill" hopes to be issued every month with a new prominent figure of Capitol Hill (either living or dead) featured every month to encourage ongoing interest and further the education and history of Capitol Hill as well as honoring those that have put forth service to the community. There are hundreds of persons who have contributed to the community but a List of top twelve persons for the first year of this program is requested from the community.

Suggested persons so far; (in no particular order and of course pending image permission):

Cal Anderson - Washington state's first openly gay legislator
George Baken - Founder and Editor of the Seattle Gay News for 36 years.
George Benson - Capitol Hill Community Leader who served 20 years on City Council
Bo - Who exemplifies the free spirit and diversity of Capitol Hill
Nellie Cornish - Founder of the Cornish Art Institute on Capitol Hill
Frances Farmer - Famous Counter culture film Artist who was a Capitol Hill resident
Mark Finley - Community Leader and Icon of the Gay Community
Bertha Knight Landes - Capitol Hill resident who helped found Women's Century Club (now Harvard Exit) and became Seattle's first and only woman Mayor as well as the first of any major U.S. city in 1926.
Bruce Lee - Film star who lived and trained on Capitol Hill's Broadway and fought for equal rights
Barack Obama - Resident on Capitol Hill as an infant
Peggy Plat - Community celebrity and Comedian
James Widener Ray - Capitol Hill Philanthropist and founder of the Rainer Foundation
Dan Savage - Editor of The Stranger, Community Leader and Activist
Andrew Taylor - Community Leader with Miller Park
Sister Donna Creation - Community Leader and Activist
Jimmy Woo - Owner of Capitol Hill Jade Pagoda and Community Leader

Please give us your suggestions.

The Discount Dollar project's first printing has been
approved by the Community Council's March 19th meeting.
Anticipated rollout is April 1st.
Look for the discount dollar featuring Frances Farmer on the hill
and Cal Anderson featured for the pride month of June.

I love the idea of community currency. However, if the final version contains imagery or slogans representing the Obama (or any other) administration, I will not use it, and I will avoid businesses that honor it.