Ithaca Hours was the community currency introduced in Ithaca, New York, in 1991 by Paul Glover.
Glover designed the currency to encourage residents to buy from local businesses and service providers. The notes represented hours of labor, with one Ithaca Hour initially linked to the approximate value of one hour of basic work. Participants could accept the notes for services and goods within the local network.
The project reflected the broader local-currency movement of the late twentieth century. Its supporters argued that a locally circulating medium could strengthen relationships among residents and reduce dependence on distant corporations. Participation was voluntary, and the currency did not replace U.S. dollars or function as legal tender.
Ithaca Hours is often confused with BerkShares, which began in Massachusetts in 2006, or LETS, which generally uses account credits rather than printed notes. Ithaca Hours specifically refers to the Ithaca labor-based currency associated with Paul Glover.