Where did all these $2 bills come from?
PRESQUE ISLE — The production of the $2 note is the lowest of U.S. banknotes: less than 1 percent of all notes currently produced are $2 bills. This comparative scarcity in circulation, coupled with a lack of public awareness that the bill is still in circulation, has also inspired urban legends and, on a few occasions, created problems for people trying to use the bill to make purchases.
The Crown of Maine Balloon Fest will be introducing $2 bills into the Central Aroostook Chamber region this summer by giving them to visiting pilots when they arrive. The pilots suggested this, as the bills will demonstrate, in an obvious way, the economic impact of the festival.
“It will be interesting to see how many businesses receive these bills and how long they circulate in the area,” said Theresa Fowler, executive director of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. “We know that the pilots and crews contribute significantly to the economy but have not had any way to demonstrate this in the past. The circulation of the unusual bills should serve as an indicator of where pilots have shopped and also may help point out visually how many times dollars do circulate.
“The pilots have been arriving in town all week and certainly they will all be here Thursday,” she said. “You will have seen the large vehicles with decorated trailers at various places.”
The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to encouraging economic growth in “the area.
“The Crown of Maine Balloon Fest demands a lot of time and energy from the committee and the Chamber staff,” said Fowler. “We hope that the use of the $2 bills will prove the value of these efforts.
“Please welcome the people carrying the $2 bills to your business and encourage them to return at least annually,” she said.
