Lake County LION (Local Investing Opportunity Network)

Do you value a healthy, thriving, and robust local economy?  Have you wondered about how you can do more, perhaps by investing some of your money in local businesses?  You are not alone. 

Thrive Lake County now has a LION: a local network of potential investors and emerging or established entrepreneurs working to create a more just and sustainable local economy.  We believe savings and investments need to be working in alignment with our values, and we feel the best way to make this happen is to enable local investing.

Today’s SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) rules prevent people from investing privately in a business opportunity unless they are already in relationship with the owner of the enterprise.  In several cities, supporters of the local economy movement have found a way to help people meet SEC rules by bringing them into relationship via fun social and educational gatherings called LIONs – Local Investing Opportunity Networks.

At a LION gathering, local residents come together to socialize, get acquainted, and to meet local entrepreneurs.  Out of these relationship networks, new opportunities for local investing naturally arise.  For example, if you are interested in supporting our local food economy, you might find yourself talking to a local farmer who is partnering with a young entrepreneur to start a food processing business using the farmer’s crops.  Without an established credit rating, the young business owner might not qualify for a bank loan.  But perhaps you could provide the loan and offer terms that give you a return on your investment without draining the emerging business of the profits they need to grow.  Our local food system is strengthened.  Jobs are created.  You have the satisfaction of knowing your money is working in harmony with your values. 

See our blog for meeting dates and times. If you're a business with an idea you'd like to share, please complete our application form.