Episode 5 - Community Wealth Building: The Industrial Commons

Morganton, North Carolina has a rich manufacturing history dating back multiple generations. But that history has been challenged in recent years by cycles of outsourcing and job loss, leaving many workers stranded. Turning challenge into opportunity, Kendeda Grantee The Industrial Commons is building on Morganton’s existing infrastructure while creating a new economic model that keeps resources and knowledge in the local community. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, The Industrial Commons’ story is one of creativity and entrepreneurship, resilience and renewal. It reveals how community wealth-building strategies can help businesses provide jobs, goods, and services, while keeping assets in communities and growing local economies in ways that benefit workers, their families, and business owners.

• Stories from The Kendeda Fund is an audio storytelling project documenting the origins, impact and legacy of The Kendeda Fund. Each episode highlights an element of The Kendeda Fund’s philanthropic journey, revealing useful lessons for nonprofit veterans and emerging donors alike. Learn more at www.kendedafund.org.  
• The Industrial Commons https://theindustrialcommons.org 
• Economic Democracy: A Conversation with Funders https://blog.candid.org/post/economic-democracy-a-conversation-with-funders/?source=philantopic 
• This episode was produced by Wonder Media Network. Our Executive Producers are Dena Kimball and David Brotherton.