As we transition into an Integrative Economy and add a Local Community Capacity employment sector to support it, businesses like Integrative Community Ventures can flourish. Beyond their direct benefits, the ripple effects that flow from ICV-type businesses hold tremendous potential. These indirect benefits reinforce the social, business, and environmental transformations made possible by full implementation of ICVs and an Integrative Economy.
Business Changes
- Unemployment levels drop: Hundreds of thousands of people could be employed as HCDPs.
- Universities expand their role: Local universities will work in partnership with ICVs—research, training, and enrollment will strengthen universities throughout the country.
- Technology expands: All HCDPs will be highly wired and competent in technology; hardware and software needs will grow to support the LCC sector.
- Small businesses grow: Entrepreneurs in the arts, fitness, and sciences will provide the services HCDPs need to foster wholeness.
- Conscious consumption: A focus on quality-of-life products and services benefits humans and the earth; closed-loop production becomes possible.
- Communities rebuild: As ICVs employ thousands, small businesses strengthen, tax revenues rebalance, and communities thrive again.
Social Changes
- Health care prevention: Lifestyle-based prevention becomes the norm; all HCDPs are well trained in applying it.
- School-ready children: As ICV prepares all children to be school-ready, schools can shift to higher-level learning as the norm—with HCDPs as a strong support system.
- Less social service intervention: Strong family and community support reduces the need for foster care, juvenile detention, and other services—shifting from fix-it-after-it-breaks to prevention.
- Senior care: ICVs provide care for aging seniors within the community—a proactive solution for the largest senior population in US history.
- Gender equality: HCDPs can be of any gender; those who want to work in the home have an equal option.
Environmental Changes
- Reduced carbon footprint: Less individual driving and shipping; more mass transit reduces emissions.
- Ecological impact: Communities build sustainable lifestyles integrated with their environments; ecological restoration projects become part of ICV teams’ community work.
- Less waste: Closed-loop production improves air and water quality.