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Ever hear of the Ithaca Hour? Believe it or not, it's a local currency, printed in Ithaca, N.Y., accepted by about 400 local businesses and is, apparently, completely legal. (Taxes must be paid on goods bought by Hours, just like those bought by dollars.) The Hour is the brainchild of Paul Glover, who printed his first batch in 1991 as a way of boosting the flagging local economy. (To learn more, visit the Ithaca Hour web site by clicking here.) Slowly, the idea has caught on. Local currency boosters say there are now about 20 other cities around the country passing around some kind of home-grown greenback. Latest to consider it: The Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, where city council member Denis Dunn is pushing for a currency he'd like to call "the Kirtland," after a prominent 19th century resident. What's the benefit? Local currencies are intended to keep money circulating locally, and the more times a dollar "turns over" locally (that is, is used to buy local goods and services rather than stuff sold by out-of-town companies), the wealthier the community becomes, economists say. "Since this is money with a boundary around it, it bounces around," Glover explained. "It shakes more hands than dollars do." What does it take to start a hometown currency? Basically, a "bank" to exchange dollars for local scrip (a bookstore pays the role in Ithaca, Lakewood promoters want to use the chamber of commerce), a respectable number of merchants willing to accept it, and citizens willing to spend it. Nice side benefit, said Glover, is that people get to know their hometown businesses. "It helps weave people together as fellow community members," he said. Footnote: So what's an Hour worth? $10. It's also available in Quarter Hour and Half Hour denominations. Why called Hours? In 1991, it was thought that most people's hourly wage would be about $10.