Never underestimate the power of innovation and a mutuallybeneficial partnership within your credit union's localcommunity.

In Raleigh, N.C., Local Government Federal Credit Union haspartnered with the UNC School of Government and the NC LocalGovernment Information Systems Association to encourage and rewardtechnology-based developments across local governments in thestate.

Incentives will be offered to those who create innovativesolutions designed to improve citizen services.

“Local governments are known for coming up with innovativetechnological solutions to meet their growing demands–and often ina very cost-effective manner,” said Maurice Smith, LGFCUpresident/CEO. “We think this program will be a unique way toinspire this kind of innovation and creativity, as well as putforth an avenue for it to be shared with others.”

The credit union will fund the program with $30,000 annually.Organizations can apply on a rolling basis for quarterly awards,which will be commemorated with a plaque of achievement, along witha feature on the presenting organizations' websites. Applying for aquarterly award also enters an organization into consideration forthe annual award–a $10,000 grant. Two $2,500 grants will also beawarded to other entries.

Program funds will also pay for an annual awards banquet and a“State of the State of Technology” e-publication, which willfeature all award submissions and offer promising practices forlocal governments to model and implement.

“North Carolina's local government information technologyleaders are the most innovative in the country,” said School ofGovernment Dean Mike Smith. “This awards program will recognizetheir daily efforts at improving the lives of North Carolinians andwill make their important contributions more visible.”

Two quarterly awards will be announced for 2011; one on Aug. 1and one on Nov. 1, with submission deadlines of July 15 and Oct.15. All local governments and schools in North Carolina areeligible to participate in the competitive grant process.

Focused on involving locals to help improve Jacksonville, Fla.,Community First Credit Union has launched an Investing in Youcontest. Tapping its Facebook fan base, the credit union hasoffered six opportunities to fund projects that make a differencein six categories: health, arts and culture, food and shelter, environment, neighborhoods, and education.

The more “likes” from Facebook audiences the more likely thatidea will be chosen. Announced every two weeks, the $1,000 grantwinners are selected among the ideas that receive the top votes Sofar three winners have been announced Natalie Nguyen and Sam Farmerfor their documentary Living Out Loud, Chets Creek Elementary ARC,and Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Facebook page has become a hub for people to submit, shareand vote on ideas that make things better in the community.

Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union has taken a slightly differentapproach to serving locals with the launch ofwww.moneystrongforlife.org.

The new online financial education resource has been designed toserve as the primary way in which members of the community, such asteachers, Brownie leaders, day care providers, and nonprofitorganizations, seek assistance from the Lowell, Mass.-based creditunion's community education department. They can go to the websiteto submit a request for an in-school financial lesson, learn moreabout its bank at school program or sign up for various financialworkshops and seminars.

“Financial education has always been the cornerstone here,” saidMark S. Cochran, president/CEO of Jeanne D'Arc CU. “The MoneyStrongFor Life website is a way for us to make it easier for people togain the financial knowledge that will not only help them but alsoallow them to help others.”

The website also offers a number of tools and tips that can helpusers in making smart financial choices, such as learning how totrack expenses, using credit wisely, guarding against fraud,working toward a high credit score, and even writing a check.

To lend a hand to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NewYork, Sunmark Federal Credit Union drew inspiration from thepopular Angry Birds mobile video game to create its own game–DuckPirates.

As part of its year-long fundraising effort, the game is thefirst of three versions that will be used to hopefully keep fundsflowing into the Food Bank at a time when charitable donations havedropped.

“We feel that we have created a uniquely appealing product thatwill help Sunmark enhance contributions for the Food Bank whilecreating a revenue stream for future charity partnerships thatprovide services which are so important for the region” said BruceBeaudette, president/ CEO of the Latham, N.Y.-based creditunion.

Patterned after Angry Birds, the game, pits the Sunmark duckagainst the angry pirate monkeys. The main objective is for playersto hurl projectiles at the monkeys knocking them off their perchand then capturing the treasure while obtaining the highestscore.

The app is free to download and locals are encouraged to make asmall donation and share the game through Facebook. All proceeds godirectly to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

Other partners include the Tri-City ValleyCats, a local minorleague baseball team, for the Suggin' SouthPaw video game, whichwill be promoted throughout the 2011 season during ballpark events.In addition Sunmark FCU has joined forces with local country radiostation WGNA to launch Country Ducks, which will make its debutbefore the station's July 9 Countryfest at the AltamontFairgrounds. Sunmark has been a major sponsor of the event andplans to add a viral component to build awareness among arearesidents of the food bank.

According to Rich Meddaugh, public relations specialist atSunmark, the app has already garnered over 30,000 downloads andcreated branding opportunities for the food bank and the creditunion.