To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

PITTSBORO, N.C. – A local currency is making a return in a small Chatham County town.

The new PLENTY went on sale Tuesday morning and backers of the reincarnation anticipate more widespread use of the money thanks to the involvement of a local bank.

The Piedmont Local EcoNomy Tender, or PLENTY, is an effort to spur the local economy by getting people to spend the colorful money with businesses willing to accept it.

"You're expressing your commitment to trade with your neighbors and your friends and keep that purchasing power locally as we grow our local economy," said B.J. Lawson, of the PLENTY Currency Cooperative.

The first version of the PLENTY debuted in 2001, but holders of the bills had no place to redeem them for Federal Reserve notes. Enter Pittsboro's branch of Capital Bank, which is selling and redeeming them for the cooperative.

"We believe that buying locally will help our community, keeping the dollars turning in this community will build our community and bring people in," said Cecil Walters, a bank vice-president.

The PLENTY comes in five denominations including ones, fives, tens, twenties and fifties. And they're on sale, for the time being, at a 10 percent discount.

"They pay $9 and get 10 PLENTYs," said Rynn Nicks, an assistant branch manager. "So, they're really getting more for their money."

Lawson said some 20 local business are accepting the PLENTY so far. He expected that number to increase as others see the advantages to business and benefits to the community.

"As people start to gain familiarity with the PLENTY, why it exists and why it's important. The businesses tend to be very positive towards the idea of increasing their business and increasing their revenue as well as increasing their ability to spend their money within the local economy," said Lawson.

For now, Pittsboro businesses are split on the PLENTY's value to their town of 2,800.

"I have to give them real money in exchange for the change," said Janice Escott, owner of Unity Books & Stuff. "This is a problem."

"It's a commitment to local purchasing and keeping the community's economy strong, and that's one of Chatham Marketplace's end statements is to support the local economy," said Mary DeMare, the store's general manager.

Several communities across the country have their own currencies including Ithaca, New York, Detroit, Michigan and the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts.