The Scottish Parliament recently passed the Community Wealth Building fund Bill 2026, which was crucially the first country to make this law. To ensure local communities – own, control and benefit from wealth they generate and NOT distant investors.
Cleveland Ohio, was rebooted with $58 investment. With a democracy alliance and evergreen Co-operatives. For laundry, energy and farm co-operatives to supply local hospitals, councils and universities. Preston adopted this model, and became the most improved city 2018.
An important figure in community wealth fund building is Neil McInroy – worked at the centre for local economic studies (CLES) Manchester – for social, ecological and economic justice. And now back in Scotland. To supply local food to schools and hospitals. He has now relocated back to Scotland after his work in America.
Big is not always beautiful. The Scottish enterprise move to more local empowerment than inward investment.
Its crucially important to develop local democracy at community level.
