Why use a $2 bill? To symbolize that it takes 2 to make a difference. The bills are uncommon, so people are apt to examine them more closely. The hope is that people will take a moment to think about where their cash is going, and realize that spending it locally has more power and impact to their local economy.  This idea was in part inspired by a small town pharmacist named Danny Cottrell in Brewton, AL who gave his employees a bonus in $2 bills but with the stipulation that they spend it locally.

So how can you participate?

If you are a consumer – spend the $2 bills at local businesses! If you are a business, now is the time to get involved.  First you will need to get some $2 bills.  Most banks have some on hand, some banks require you to order them ahead of time. Next it will help if you denote the bill with a stamp of some kind.  Some merchants have copies of a LocalMotive stamp and can also point you in the direction of making your own stamp if you like. Is it illegal to mark a bill? No, it’s not illegal. As long as the currency is not made illegible or invalid, then it is not defaced. It is with care that a small marking is placed in the margin or white space to encourage circulating the bill locally.

There are 2 files you can download to hand out with each $2 bill. You will need the “What” and the “Takes 2” pdf file.  They need to be printed on both sides of the paper, cutting them out, they nicely wrap around the bill helping to draw additonal attention to the bill. 

Finally, put the bills in your cash registers.  Hand them out as change to your customers.  Often people are very excited to get them and even start planning on where they are going to use it next. 

 Are these bills staying local? Where’s George is a free service devoted to the tracking of currency.  You may have seen bills in the past with a stamp urging you to go to the “Where’s George” website.  We are urging people to enter their $2 bills to see how long they stay local. If you find a bill with a “LocalMotive” stamp on it, visit Where’s George to see where it’s been.