See Jobs and Local Commons Coops, EconomyWork.
In particular trace the connections to see how providing the essential services for any neighborhood could provide meaningful work for lot of community members, especially is a local education/learning system is created and focused on these essential functions including how to design, operate, maintain, and change them.
An interesting side effect of creating a vibrant neighborhood economy is that one can use forms of exchange that work without (with fewer) US dollars.
See Currency,