In some areas, island life is much like mainland life. People still shop for groceries, take their children to school or take a walk when the weather is nice.

Lopez Island does, however, allow for a uniqueness in certain aeras. The scale and nature of the community provides an opportunity for certain business models inapplicable on a larger scale.

Irene Blomberg represents that opportunity. Her investment venture, “Local Investments, Community Lending Partners,” facilitates loans between local investors, and those lopez residents in need of financing.

“I’m connecting people in this small communty who are looking for loans, with people who are looking to invest in their community…Usually it’s used for organizations, churches, cultural communities, where you have a clear boundary of who your community is,” Blomberg said, explaining the history of the model and the criteria for its success.

This necessary sense of community solidarity and outline is, Blomberg feels, inherent in the Lopez community, “We have this close community, you either live here or you don’t, you’re a part of this community, and there are those clear boundaries.”

The seeds of this venture were sown over six years ago when Blomberg received local financing to buy a wood-chipper. At the time, Blomberg and her husband Zack were focused primarily on their business Flower Mountain Tree Service. A local investor approached the couple saying they liked the Blomberg’s business, and wanted to help. “They said, ‘we see who you are, we believe in you, we see how this is profitable,’ so we did a private loan with them and it worked out really well.”

The wood chipper proved to be a vital addition to the Blomberg’s inventory, and their investor had the pleasure of watching their money contribute to something local and worthwhile.

The concept grew and solidified until July 2010 when Blomberg received her business license, which coincided with the securing of her first loan.

Blomberg said the idea is not without its “scary” aspect. “The concept is really challengeing, we see each other, you will see the person you borrowed money from at the grocery store, the investor will be more inclined to come to your business.”

This sense of increased responsibility is, however, a gateway to feeling happier about what the loan money is doing, Blomberg said. Usually when money is invested it is lost to the anonymous waves of the stock market.Blomberg makes the point that by investing in local projects, the fruits of that finance can be seen every day. The terms of the loans and the rates of interest are determined by both parties and Blomberg. For those receiving the loan, therefore, this eases the strain of fluctuating markets and interest rates. “We are not so separate from our money,” Bloomber said.

Since keeping things local, either in food production or shopping, is so important to lOPEZ, Blomberg thinks that community financing is a logical option. “We’re so focused on bein local on Lopez) the next step is ‘growing our own money locally’, investing locally.”

There will be an information session about Local Investments, Community Learning this Wednesday. from 5-7 p.m. at Lopez Library.