The Long Distance Local

Jay Tompt is an American who has moved and shaken in both the States and here in the UK. His business knowledge began at Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monteray and his philosophy with a BA from San Jose State University drew him almost magnetically to contextualizing business with working within the environment. He would like us to recognise that these are not mutually exclusive concepts… He says at university, he was never without his Gary Snyder book; Earth House Hold which advocates a revolution that will “link us in many ways with the most creative aspects of our archaic past.”

Getting Started

His first successful business was at the early days of the computer boom in Silicon Valley. These were the dot.com-Netscape days, with a company specializing in digital media called ‘Scree Interactive’ (named after a Genesis track!).  Jay remember the 90’s as a time when ‘Things were getting better“- this was probably helped by meeting his partner from Wimbledon sparking his connection with the UK. However in 1999, his activist nature drew his attention to the Battle of Seattle – a mass protest at the steps of a World Trade Organisation conference. It is thought that this protest sparked the anti-globalization movement and drew international attention to the potential effects of undemocratic global economic control. He clearly feels this is an important moment in world geo-politics.

Moving On

Around the birth of his daughter in 2000, he joined a company producing compostable cutlery  – his motivations leading his own career and the next venture was to be instrumental in re-organising a regional DIY chain Plan-it Hardware to incorporate environmentally friendly products into their ranges and to provide them onwards to other retailers. This included Non-toxic paints and greener products. He feels this was an important shift to nudge consumers to be more aware and search out less destructive commodities.

Heading West

In 2006 Jay remembers hearing of Totnes for the first time having read an article about Transition Towns.  He also had a friend who went to Schumacher College He and his partner Jane knew that they would one day have to move to the UK to take care of her ageing father.  They thought “Totnes might be the most Californian part of England” and set their sights on it for their eventual move. On their first visit, they encountered the Christmas Market which he describes as “Magical – It was was a great first date!”

Now, it appears that Jay is fully engaged with many of the ideas that shaped his early ideologies with the Re-conomy centre. This is formed around ‘economic relocalisation‘ centering around the main groups we need as a sustainable and locally resiliant area: Food, Energy, Housing, Business and Livelihood.

A strong local economy

One the early projects was the ‘local economic blueprint‘ which made the economic case for relocalisation, here, with potential benefits for the local economy of tens of millions of pounds more income and dozens more jobs. For example – virtually all the money made in Morrisson’s leaves the region and even the country as an American private equity group benefits from the profits. Shopping locally enables a circular economy – this financial benefit to be retained in the area making more sense for everyone living here

In 2011 he wanted to set up a ‘business incubator‘ to help advise and encourage local entrepreneurialism. One very visible aspect of this is the annual Local Entrepreneur Forum. A community Dragons-Den where all locals are invited to see a selected group of projects and offer help to encourage successful outcomes. This can be in the form of pledges of time or money or even just offering to use the services. The Re-conomy Centre itself is a the foot of Kingsbridge Hill and a hub for anyone needing help with business ideas or just needing a space to work.

Livin’ the dream!

Jays’ own work within the Schumacher College, lecturing at Plymouth University and authoring many articles on Regenerative Economics indicates a man who is putting his money (and energy) where his mouth is.

He may have come a long way from his birth roots but he seems closer than ever to where his heart is.