Regional economies produce and distribute the basic needs of our populations, building local self-reliance in food, fiber, energy and building materials. By reducing the need to import goods from outside corporations, we can stop capital from leaving our region and build community wealth and resilience. The climate crisis brings urgency to building self-reliant regional economies. Local production decreases dependency on global supply chains easily disrupted by weather and social upheaval and reduces the carbons of long distant shipping. Local production of basic needs prepares our communities and future generations to withstand climate change. The resilience of local economies may well determine the survival of tomorrow’s children.