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The buy local movement isn’t new. But now, an initiative in Ithaca is offering a different kind of opportunity: to invest in local businesses. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe are nothing new and are donation based. The new Ithaca Exchange is investment crowdfunding. “Investment crowdfunding works with businesses to create actually SEC approved investment opportunities. Which means the businesses need to promise some type of financial return to investors.” That’s Stephanie Geller. She’s the founder of Community Wealth Builders in Baltimore. The group works to develop more equitable and inclusive neighborhood economies. They launched their Maryland Neighborhood Exchange program in 2019. “Even existing black businesses had a very hard time accessing growth…
The Greater Ithaca Activities Center hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 18. Gathered in the Beverly J. Martin Elementary School gymnasium, community members enjoyed a meal, musical performances and guest speakers, primarily focusing on the themes of empowerment and racial justice. Photo and reporting by WRFI news contributor J.T.…
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Diane Morton, President of the Cayuga Bird Club, talks about the 2020 Christmas Bird Count. Starting in the wee hours of New Year’s Day, volunteer birders will venture out to count birds in a 15 mile diameter area around Tompkins County. This will be the 58th year that the local birding club will take part…
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Katie Quinn-Jacobs, co-leader of the Tompkins County Chapter of Mothers Out Front, speaks about her organization. She discusses how she got involved with MOF and the current activities of her organization. (photo: courtesy of Katie Quinn-Jacobs).
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Foodnet Meals on Wheels is a local organization which provides both food and nutrition services to older individuals living in Tompkins County. Their services involve home delivery of hot meals throughout Ithaca, Groton, Trumansburg, and Lansing. Foodnet Executive Director, Jessica Gosa, recently spoke to WRFI News Director Michayla Savitt and News Contributor Pamela Tan on…
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The buy local movement isn’t new. But now, an initiative in Ithaca is offering a different kind of opportunity: to invest in local businesses. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe are nothing new and are donation based. The new Ithaca Exchange is investment crowdfunding. “Investment crowdfunding works with businesses to create actually SEC approved investment…
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Sabotage Cuts Candidate Forum Short A forum for Ithaca City School Board candidates Thursday night was interrupted and then cut short. The event was hosted by the Ithaca Teachers Association (or ITA) via Zoom. Seven candidates were slated to participate, three of whom are endorsed by the ITA. According to the Ithaca Voice, the attack…
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Cornell President Pollack to Retire After seven years as Cornell’s President, Martha Pollock will retire on June 30. According to the Cornell Sun, in her announcement Pollack stressed that the decision to leave was her own. She added that she had been considering retirement since last fall. But events at Cornell and other campuses lead…
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Housing Market in Tompkins Remains Tight The housing market in Tompkins County continues to shrink. According to the Tompkins Weekly, housing stock is down 14% from last year’s already historic low. Brent Katzmann of the Ithaca Board of Realtors called the decline “disconcerting.” In addition to an overall decline in available houses for sale, he…
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