We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Community Investment?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,898
Share

Community investment is a strategy of using available resources to create a brighter future for a given community. The process may involve financial investment by large corporations, local business people, or even private citizens and grass roots organizations. In many cases, successfully investing in communities involves a combination of all these resources.

An underlying principle of community investment is that taking steps to better the physical facilities, educational opportunities, or options for employment today will result in substantial rewards for everyone concerned in the future. By making the investment today, there are small immediate awards for the business, such as tax breaks or other privileges offered by the local government. At the same time, the community investing provided a platform that made the community more attractive to potential residents and in general improved the quality of life for everyone.

Many textile companies in the United States employed this formula of community investment in the early 20th century. Corporations would build large manufacturing facilities that provided local employment for residents. At the same time, the company would provide grants to local school systems, encouraging literacy among the next generation of employees. In some cases, the companies even constructed housing in the general area of the manufacturing facility and offered the homes at extremely low rental prices to their workers. Up until the middle of the 20th century, it was not unusual for a family to live in the same house in a so-called mill village for two or more generations, with each generation working in the local mill.

The level of community investment impact varies from one situation to another. Literacy programs, low cost housing, and programs to help the unemployed and homeless get back on their feet are still important to the quality of life in many cities and towns. Today, community investment programs such as low cost healthcare options, substance abuse recovery programs, and the creation of new recreational programs for the general populace are also considered important aspects of making a long term investment in a given locality.

A community investment does not have to originate with a big corporation. Local efforts through a chamber of commerce that include the support of individual citizens, local businesses, and non-profit organizations can make a huge impact. Community gardens to raise fresh produce, collection centers that supply clothing and food to people who are out of work, and classes held at the local high school for people who must gain additional skills in order to obtain a job are all examples of programs that any local community can initiate on its own. These types of self-investing communities not only help to meet needs, but also can increase a sense of self-worth and pride in the community as a whole.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-community-investment.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.