About CIRC

The Community Information Resource Center (CIRC) is a non-profit

• consulting service,
• networking hub, and
• information source,

connecting people and resources, and fostering the development of healthy communities.

CIRC seeks to promote:

• Cooperation and mutual support

• Participatory democracy and individual liberty

• Local self-reliance and community control

• Sustainable living and right-livelihood

• Micro-enterprise

CIRC Services

The capabilities and services provided by CIRC include the following:

• Consultation on community currencies and exchange systems, monetary transformation, equitable finance, community economic development strategies, sustainable systems, cooperative structures, self-employment, and intentional communities.

• Interdisciplinary research, opinion surveys, and statistical data analysis.

• Access to information, electronic networks and communication technologies.

• Organization development; administrative and technical support.

• Education and training

• Publishing services

Whom Does CIRC Serve?

CIRC is accessible to all but it's particular target clientele consists of groups and individuals working toward community improvement, self-reliance, social justice, economic opportunity, and sustainability.

How Does CIRC Operate?

CIRC is a volunteer organization of people helping themselves and one another. Everyone who shares its goals is invited to participate.

CIRC offers its services on the basis of ability to pay. Although many of its services are provided free, much of CIRC's revenue is derived from service fees. Grants and donations of money, equipment and supplies are always welcome and allow CIRC to enlarge the range of free services. CIRC operates as a project of NEST, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation, which is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Donations are, therefore, tax deductible. Since its inception, CIRC has provided numerous services to various constituencies.

CIRC's accomplishments include the following:

• Helped to organize Tucson Traders community exchange system and local currency.
  
• Helped to organize and incorporate the Tucson Community Land Trust (TCLT).

• Conducted membership surveys for numerous professional and trade associations. This included developing questionnaires, analyzing data and interpreting results.

• Conducted a background study on Eco-villages and sustainable development for the Tucson Solar Village project (which has evolved into the Civano development). (Report entitled, Eco-village Overview, available from the Office of the City Manager).
  
• Provided administrative services and financial management for NEST, Inc., the Bale Test Fund, The Sustainable Communities Project, and the Development Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT) (during its formative stage).

• Helped to establish the Tucson Non-profit Council (TNC) and to organize its database of community organizations.

• Conducted a workshop in on-line computer communications.

• Participated in numerous conferences and workshops including the Peace Building for the 21st Century (PB21) Symposium series at the Fetzer Institute, Bioregional Congresses, Green Gatherings, The Other Economic Summit (TOES) and Fourth World Assemblies.

• Promoting the establishment of Eco-villages and sustainable intentional communities.

• Set up and operated a computer bulletin board (BBS) for 3 years.

• Provides on-going consulting support and advice for various local currency projects, including one which is operated by a large eastern non-profit organization.

• Working to promote the development and implementation of a Youth Employment Service Exchange, a community-wide initiative designed to ameliorate the problems of youth unemployment and alienation, while stimulating the entire local economy. A fundamental and innovative element of this plan is the issuance of a local currency called Youth Employment Scrip, which will expand the range of available economic opportunities.

On-going CIRC activities include extensive international correspondence and collaboration with groups and individuals concerned with community economics, monetary reform, intentional community, appropriate technology, right-livelihood, and sustainable living.

CIRC is a project of NEST, Inc., a tax-exempt non-profit organization.   In order to continue our work, all of our operations need to be financially self-supporting.  We request a small donation to cover the costs of providing this information.  Please consider an additional contribution to help us continue and expand our free services.