The Sangudo Opportunity

A D

evel

opm

ent M

odel

Tha

t Can

Sa

ve O

ur R

ural

Com

mun

ities

“What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

Emerson

Sangudo

A town past it’s prime…

Tipping point – school closure

Creating A Community of Well-Being

Sangudo Opportunity Development Cooperative (SODC)

“To support and facilitate the development of businesses and projects which enhance

the social and/or economic well-being of the Sangudo community.”

Sangudo Opportunity Development Cooperative (SODC)

Initial project ideas:- Funeral Home- Art Gallery

- Hardware Store- Biomass Generator

- Existing Infrastructure?

Sangudo Custom Meat Packers

- Built in 1954- Owner operated by a 72-year old, one employee- Poor reputation- 2-acre site in town, 6,500sqft building- Provincially inspected and licensed- Integral to local livestock producers- 100km’s away from a 1 million consumer market

The UNIQUE DEAL to make it work

Key features:

- Sangudo Opportunity Development Cooperativebuys the Land and Building and holds title

- 22 cooperative members- equal shares- one member, one vote

- Jeff and Kevin buy the business and equipment- Fixed, easy monthly lease payments- Quarterly payment based on % of Gross Revenue- 3-year building buyout option at pre-determined price

LOVE

SANGUDO CUSTOM MEAT PACKERS

Actions Taken

- Repairs, Renovations, Upgrades

- Hiring and Training

- Comprehensive Marketing Strategy- Relationship management- Media cloud- Immersive food experiences - Food tourism

Results- Financial

- Jobs- ROI for investors- Local livestock purchasing & marketing

- Social- Tourism spinoff (50 person floatilla)- Community pride/identity- Replicability for other rural communities

- Environmental- Local, small, diverse, scattered, humane

Replicating the SODC ModelThe Right People

The Right Values

Shared Vision

A Leap of Faith

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

Margaret Wheatley

CurrentSecond Project: Legion Building

Third Project: Refinancing for UpgradesFourth Project: Veterinary Clinic

Fifth Project: Early Buyout

FutureRRSP Eligible Community Slush Fund

Refrigerated Trucking CompanyBio-Waste Composting

Biomass Burner/District HeatingSchool Building Purchase/Leadership Centre

Community Owned Land TrustZero Footprint Housing

Agri-food Tourism

“Try? There is no try. There is only do, or not do.”

Yoda