Vibrant, successful, sustainable communities share a common recognition - one of the strongest drivers of positive change may not be environmental passion or economic opportunity, but new connections among people and innovations in lifestyle, economic institutions, local policy and communications channels.  Researchers at Iowa State University, studying successful rural regions, found that a common characteristic (beyond money and leadership) was "entrepreneurial social infrastructure" - aspects of community, from public meeting spaces to dynamic free press, that helped ideas and collaborations to flow.  A few examples show the potential and range of social innovation for a sustainable regional economy:

• Community-supported agriculture brings farms and consumers together in a new financial arrangement, protecting farmland and enhancing local food supplies.
• Flex-cars and car-sharing help relieve urban congestion while they afford people the benefits of a car without the hassles of ownership.
• Time banking is a fast-growing system for exchanging services to strengthen community ties and create a "caring economy" outside of the realm of money, alleviating poverty as it builds up community resilience.

Social innovation is a fast-growing topic. One place to learn more is the Social Innovation Forum:  http://www.socialinnovationforum.org/

And visit back here often.