Building wealth for the future is one of the most important steps in building strong communities, prosperous families and a secure nation. Yet, it is often overlooked in favor of immediate income, consumption and the short-term bottom line. But we do so at our family, community and national peril.

Widely held personal wealth is critical to poverty reduction. It can take many forms – savings, home ownership, business ownership, or education and skills. Without it, families are just a layoff away from poverty. And families that build wealth can give their children an extra edge in gaining an education, starting a farm or business, buying a home and establishing a foothold in life.

Wealth must be spread around in many hands to do much good. We’ve been fierce advocates of family farms and small business, as well as enabling workers in larger businesses to share in their ownership. Each builds wealth in many hands, enables more people to take more control of their lives, and gives more people a stake in their community.

No American should be comfortable with the fact that today our nation’s 400 richest people control more wealth than the bottom 60 percent of citizens. That is the most concentrated wealth has ever been in America. It does not bode well for our future. Wealth is power. So it is difficult to sustain a strong democracy when wealth is concentrated in so few hands.

Community wealth is also essential. It is what we use to build a future in our small towns. It includes:

• Financial wealth available for investment.
• Quality homes that draw new residents, good buildings available to new businesses, and community trails and other facilities that build quality of life.
• The work-related skills, quality education, and good health of the local work force.
• Quality farmland, pure water, natural beauty, and favorable climate that enhances lives and livelihoods.
• Effective leadership, social bonds, and culture that enable community members to strive together for a vision and work cooperatively for the common good, while drawing on differing perspectives and opinions.

Each of us can help build community wealth. When we fix up our homes, add to our education, and support our local schools we build community wealth. We build community wealth by participating in community development efforts, contributing to constructive conversations that resolve community conflicts, and assuming leadership roles within our community.

We build community wealth when we pay taxes that fund investments in the future of the community – small business development, community infrastructure, and facilities that improve quality of life. We build community wealth by investing personal assets in our farms and businesses and contributing to community foundations and charities that invest in the community.

Each of us has a stake in our community. When we invest time, talent or treasure in its future, we share in the benefit.

Agree or disagree? Send your comments to me, Chuck Hassebrook, at 402.687.2103, ext. 1018 or chuckh@cfra.org.