In 2009, ACCA initiated a project to advance co-operative development in rural communities in Alberta. The Rural Co-operative Outreach and Development project, with generous funding support from the Rural Alberta Development Fund (RADF), has undergone three main phases:
A) Community Outreach
Following promotion of the program, ACCA was invited to deliver presentations which clarified the distinctiveness of the co-operative model and which portrayed some types of co-operatives which are lesser known in rural Alberta. 20 presentations were made across the province.
B) Community Plan Assessment
Communities were invited to submit their development plans which were then reviewed by ACCA to identify the potential role that the co-operative model could play in each community’s preferred direction. A written report was provided to each of 16 communities that submitted plans.
C) Co-operative Development
Two communities were selected for the development of co-operatives to meet needs within their communities.
In Sangudo, a unique form of co-operative has been created to enable local investment in locally owned businesses. The Sangudo Opportunity Development Co-operative’s (SODC) first project was to enable the succession of the Sangudo Custom Meat Packers whose owner was retiring. The SODC bought the land and buildings and lease them to two younger community entrepreneurs who bought the business. Within the first four months, the abattoir’s revenues more than doubled and it now employs five full time equivalent staff as compared to two under the previous owner.
Throughout Alberta a great many small local business owners are nearing retirement without a succession plan in place. The SODC model is one that communities throughout the province should examine.
In Two Hills, some of the community members have had experience working in greenhouses in other parts of the country. However, the winter heating costs of greenhouses in more northerly climates reduces the feasibility of greenhouses as commercial operations. Yet, there is potential to design greenhouses that are more energy efficient, make better use of solar heat, and which draw upon bio-energy sources for needed supplemental heat.
Three entities have joined together to create a co-operative with the intent of developing the prototypes for greenhouse design and biomass energy systems to meet the northern climate challenges of the Two Hills area. The three members are: United Fabrication and Welding Ltd. (Two Hills), Gaia Energies Ltd. (Edmonton), the Solar Energy Society of Alberta (Edmonton). Once successful prototypes have been developed, the intent is to establish a full scale commercial greenhouse in Two Hills.
This initiative is an example of how a small community can draw upon the expertise and partner with outside community resources, allowing it to leap frog its learning and develop a project that is for more substantial then it could relying solely upon its own resources.
An Executive Summary with Lessons Learned from the Project is available here
For further information on this project, contact:
Richard Stringham, PAg
rstringham@acca.coop
Ph: 780-823-0230
