The document discusses a development model in Sangudo, Alberta to revitalize the rural community facing decline. [1] The Sangudo Opportunity Development Cooperative (SODC) was formed with the goals of supporting and facilitating businesses and projects to enhance the social and economic well-being of Sangudo. [2] An initial project was to have the SODC purchase an existing but struggling meat packing business, with cooperative members and new owners leasing and upgrading the facility, leading to job growth and economic benefits for the town. [3] The model has shown early success and provides a potential replicable approach for other rural communities facing challenges.

1. The Sangudo Opportunity
A Development Model That Can
Save Our Rural Communities

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

3. Sangudo

4. A town past it’s prime…

5. Tipping point – school closure

7. Creating A Community of Well-Being

8. 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.”

9. Sangudo Opportunity Development Cooperative
(SODC)
Initial project ideas:
-Funeral Home
-Art Gallery
-Hardware Store
-Biomass Generator
-Existing Infrastructure?

10. 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

11. The UNIQUE DEAL to make it work
Key features:
- Sangudo Opportunity Development Cooperative
buys 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

12. SANGUDO CUSTOM MEAT
PACKERS

13. Actions Taken
- Repairs, Renovations, Upgrades
- Hiring and Training
- Comprehensive Marketing Strategy
-Relationship management
-Media cloud
-Immersive food experiences
-Food tourism

14. 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

15. Replicating the SODC Model
The 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

16. Current
Second Project: Legion Building
Third Project: Refinancing for Upgrades
Fourth Project: Veterinary Clinic
Fifth Project: Early Buyout
Future
RRSP Eligible Community Slush Fund
Refrigerated Trucking Company
Bio-Waste Composting
Biomass Burner/District Heating
School Building Purchase/Leadership Centre
Community Owned Land Trust
Zero Footprint Housing
Agri-food Tourism

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