LOCAL BUSINESS COOPERATIVE: Community Development for the People

 

A business cooperative is a viable solution to provide for the needs and demand of local residents and community development. It can ensure that your hard-earned money and taxes are well-spent, recirculating in the local economy rather than funneling out to wealthy elite pockets that have no interest in the well-being of the local community. While it will take time to meet every demand from resident consumers as part of the cooperative, prioritizing essential goods and services will ensure long-term success for the community and its business cooperative. We must support or start business that prioritize people and OUR planet over profit. We need to inspire, or incentivize, baby boomers and other generations of the top 10% to support these initiatives and invest the wealth and resources they are sitting on. We have to create new job opportunities, especially for service industry workers now making up ~60-80% of the United States’ workforce, by bringing back domestic manufacturing and farming in a “sustainable” fashion. If existing businesses would offer organic, non-GMO, and other “responsible” materials, this would be an unnecessary competition. Yet here WE are purchasing oversized and overpriced housing or renting not-so “affordable housing” built with irresponsibly and unfairly sourced materials while feeding ourselves Monsanto’s toxins that reek havoc on the body, OUR planet, and local economies. WE need to change the standard.

Modern Single Family Housing Options

There’s a number of options to address the shortage of housing that don’t involve living on wheels in an eight and a half foot wide “tiny house”. We can utilize technology and automation wherever beneficial to meet the demand that has existed for over half a century. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, it was mostly refined ~100 years ago. Manufactured housing is better suited to withstand the harshest of scenarios (such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados). And there is far less waste and pollution with or without LEED certified practices. 

Alternative methods of building modern single family housing:

  • Prefabricated steel frame housing combined with:
    • Manufactured wood and/or hemp paneled housing
    • Hempcrete brick housing
  • 3D printed housing

Note, hemp is the primary material that can supplement wood in the home building and furnishing process. Hemp hurd can be manufactured into paneling of equal strength to wood which can be used to build cabinetry and furniture. The importance this has on our agriculture and housing industries cannot be overstated. Hemp farming is OUR guaranteed path to economic and ecological prosperity.

Local Grocery Market (Buyer)

By incorporating a local market and cafe we can feed and accommodate residents and visitors of the “Township”. This market will partner with local organic farmers and source other essential consumable goods as well as vitamins and other supplements (organic and non-GMO) for you to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Local Clothier (Buyer and Producer)

By creating a local retailer a variety of goods can be sourced or manufactured to outfit the community and other customers. This will provide a shopping experience that prioritizes quality, style, and function. A local retailer such as this will curate “responsible” vendors to source high-demand goods, rotate seasonal offerings, and encourage repeat business for artisans, manufacturers, and farmers.

Local Home Goods (Buyer and Producer)

From furniture and cookware, to appliances and other electronics, this retailer will provide all the essential modern conveniences for you to furnish and fully utilize your home. Think Sears of the 1920s with a storefront and online shopping. Manufacturers, craftspeople, and consumers will all benefit from Fair Trade Certified home goods.

Distribution and Fulfillment Center

Finished products and components (both consumable and non-perishable) need safe storage and delivery. A distribution center of the “Township” will provide temperature controlled and warehouse storage while managing delivery of products to retailers and residents alike.

It’s important to streamline fulfillment to meet the expectations of local consumers, just not at the expense of fossil fuels and excessive pollution. Same-day and next-day delivery with Amazon Prime does more damage than we consumers realize. But managed at a local level, we can compete “responsibly”.

Local Organic Farming

Farmers once made up 80% of the workforce in the United States, feeding citizens and generating profit through sales and exports. This has changed with 80% of the population working in low-skilled service industry jobs. By reviving domestic farming we can support a more valuable workforce, regenerate soil health, and supply our own essential food and building materials that contribute to more affordable consumer goods. Hemp / cannabis, corn, and wheat will be the staple crops that can provide for the community.

Local Organic Vertical Farming

A local vertical hydroponics farm can grow organic produce for the community at scale. The average person consumes 153 pounds of vegetables per year. In Jacksonville, Wyoming a hydroponic vertical farm grows 100,000 pounds of vegetables per year on a 4,500 sqft lot, totaling 13,500 sqft vertically. They produce 7.5 pounds per sqft via a hydroponic carousel system. This system eliminates many issues related to sunlight and harvesting. The total cost of this facility was $3.7 million. Jacksonville has a total population of ~10,000, whereas Denton has ~138,000. A pilot business cooperative can be built as a model to scale while generating support from the local community and investors.

As an example, a Denton, Texas warehouse located at 201 Exposition Dr. is available for sale that was previously an automotive and heavy duty A/C parts distribution facility. It sits on 5.2 acres with an 84,000 sqft building, priced at $4.2 million. It is walking distance from The Square, DCTA train station, outdoor trail system, and, unfortunately, modern rental apartment complexes (one developed by Lang Parters out of Dallas, Texas).

The warehouse has 30,000 sqft of space with a current structure capable of ~60,000 sqft of growing room. This would support production of ~450,000 pounds of fresh organic vegetables capable of feeding about 3,000 people per year. That’s ~2.2% of Denton’s population. The fact is that while farm land can be cheap upfront, it has ongoing costs and depreciates with conventional farming practices as soil quality depletes. A vertical farming facility will cover costs of construction over time and generate ongoing returns at higher margins over the years.

Financial Projections of a Local Organic Vertical Farm

  • Development cost – ~$163 per sqft
  • Property with existing structure – ~$4.2 million
  • Development cost – ~9,780,000
    • Total – ~$13,980,000
  • Average profit = $41 per sqft (includes labor, energy, and technology)
  • 60,000 sqft facility
  • Profit = ~$2,460,000
    • 30 year repayment plan – $466,000 per year
    • ~$1,994,000 profit per year

Note, this facility is only being used as an example. Its land can provide adequate space for a business cooperative complex inclusive of an organic vertical farm, single family micro-housing manufacturing, and other “essential” businesses. And while this warehouse can be remodeled to add more growing room for a larger organic vertical farm, this facility would mainly serve as a pilot business cooperative to support future cooperative developments. In full transparency, much of Denton’s government and citizens are corrupt. Fort Worth and other cities throughout DFW have proven to support short-sighted business ventures and the funneling of money to government and others in support of corporatist agendas. While Denton and North Texas has a variety of “attractive” features and businesses, the existing residents would determine the success or failure of a business cooperative. There is no reason to limit any “pilot” cooperative to Denton, or North Texas. Obviously there’s cheaper land, and a more accommodating facility can be acquired or constructed elsewhere that can garner more creative freedom and economic opportunity. We do not need to invest in a city run by “king makers” and their puppets. We are best off creating our own townships or seeking out like-minded legislators that hold power over cities that want to lead by example as a city that supports millenarian objectives (as the land making up the United States was originally settled to achieve). 

Energy Supplier and Management

Solar and wind farming can supply the energy needed to support a “Township”. Micro-housing conserves energy, as does LEED building standards. Energy should be managed by a business for the benefit of the community (not shareholders or greedy government). No more energy auctioning to inflate prices – energy will be sold at cost plus a modest profit that provides livable salaries and guarantees energy demands of the community as a “Township” are met.

Banking

A bank should provide a secure means of storing your money without jeopardizing your funds with short-sighted risky investments. Credit will be offered at reasonable interest rates that attract investors with vested interest in the “Township”, ensuring modest returns over time.

Insurance

Whether health, home, auto, or life, insurance is a scam as it exists today, producing passive income for elites that seek to give less for more. In fact, up to _% of insurance companies budget goes to teams of people looking for ways to avoid paying on policies when “emergencies” arise. A local insurance company of the “Township” will protect and serve its customers on their terms. 

Real Estate

Fair pricing and non-commissioned sales will ensure real estate serves the community as a market of its own.

 

Construction and Plumbing

Sewage, irrigation, roads, buildings, fiber wire, and more will provide the infrastructure of the “Township”. These resources will be constructed using “sustainable”, “responsible” methods that will withstand all elements, serving the community and its economy as one.

 

Metal and Fabrication Work

From steel framing, i-beams, piping, and general welding to carpentry and CNC machining, a one-stop-shop for wholesale and custom fabrication will serve as a manufacturer for the community.

Transit Management

There are plenty of railroads to build a “Township” near or connect to for importing and exporting goods. By overseeing road mapping, mass transit, bike lanes, and trail systems, this business will connect the “Township” and ensure products and people are able to get where they need to go in a timely and accommodating manner.

Fitness Center

Active living is essential to health and well-being. Calisthenics, weight lifting, and water aerobics suit every person at every stage of life. And a fitness center can accommodate a variety of athletics as instructors utilize the space. Baseball, soccer, basketball, and independent action sports complexes are pivotal to team and social development. Any and all can be constructed dependent on a two-thirds vote from the community of the “Township” as funding becomes available.

 

Food and Beverage Manufacturing

In order to best utilize local farming, food and beverage manufacturing will support local business and consumers by taking minimizing dependence on mass producers of consumable products. Frozen prepared foods, packaged dried foods, sparkling waters, sodas, and alcohol will provide modern, healthy consumable products for the community through the local grocery market and other local businesses.

Local Co-working and Business Incubator

Modernizing any business for sustainable growth requires “incubation”. This phase of business development will likely involve the Founder(s), CEO, board members, executives and core team members. Everyone should have an opportunity to be heard when undergoing drastic infrastructure or operational changes. 

Local Maker Space

Blue collar skills are diminishing. With a local maker space people can gain access to manufacturing tools and materials to learn new trade skills and build to suit their needs. Welding, carpentry, mechanics, engineering, CAD design, 3d printing and CNC manufacturing all can be made available to hobbyists and entrepreneurs alike. This space can also serve a startup incubator. The Dallas Maker Space is a good example of this. We can learn from them and iterate based on needs and wants of local craftspeople. Get the family involved; engage the minds of children with hands-on learning experiences.

Local Dog Park and Beer Garden

 Denton has needed a modern dog park for some time now. The North Lakes Dog Park at Discovery Park cost taxpayers ~$500,000. There is no shade, no amenities, no way for visitors to relax and enjoy the outdoors with their dog(s) and community. This space gets sub-par use 6 months out of the year and is a sunk cost the remainder of the year due to these factors. The same can be said for Wiggly Field Dog Park and (to be fair) just about every other city-funded dog park in the metroplex.

Fetch Dog Park and Bar was a startup fostered in Denton, Texas that never had the chance to come to fruition. The concept is an off-leash dog park with a concession-style bar and restaurant with patio seating for dog owners. Other amenities such as grooming services, monthly promotions and events would be available to visitors and “members”. Similar business models have been successful in Dallas such as Mutts Canine Cantina.

Craft Taco Shop

A local hand-crafted taco shop with unconventionally merged flavors and organic ingredients would be a great alternative to Fuzzy’s or Torchy’s. With high-quality organic craft beverages themed accordingly and a clean modern setting this is a recipe for success.

Brick-Oven Pizza

Pizza was meant to be healthy. Taverna Rosa and Earl’s 377 are solid examples of pizza done well. Their experiences are second to none, for now. A local pizza and craft bar that utilizes organic and local ingredients does not exist. Restaurants should rotate their menu and encourage chefs to express creative freedom in the kitchen.

Medical Services

Every “Township” will likely be constructed within driving distance of a hospital. That’s just logical. Unfortunately, since Nixon converted health services into a for-profit competitive industry, hospitals are run, like insurance, to minimize costs and avoid service to the “community”. As a “Township” increases in population, a hospital and/or medical center will be prioritized. And of course any “responsible” doctor is welcome to start a local doctor’s office or other health-related practice. In the meantime, reducing your stress with an affordable mortgage and taking care of your body with highly-nutritious consumable goods from the local grocery market and a community-supported active lifestyle will provide for your long-term health.

How To Approach a Business Cooperative

Solutions architecture is the practice of defining, describing, and visualizing an architecture of a business system or process that delivers business solutions. It should encompass all departments but may prioritize one area of the business. Most of the time this involves defining and revamping processes, identifying and setting up technology, and implementing automations for efficiency. Collectively this helps to gain and maintain alignment when starting a business.

By managing operations from one unified platform we can ensure no one is overworked or under-appreciated. Used effectively, work management software supports work being done on time and budget across teams and/or departments. Anything that is repeated in a business should be documented as a process. These processes will help others manage the day-to-day operations so leadership can more often work “on” rather than “in” the business. And as team members change, these processes organized in a unified work management platform will smooth hand-offs.

Proving the Cooperative Business Model

Any business is only as good as the community of people that support it. There’s internal community (team members) and external community (customers and society) – ALL are “stakeholders”. By working together to serve our community and society we are able to create value in the form of products and services. Done “responsibly”, a business cooperative can generate substantial profits that can organically trickle down in support of people and OUR planet rather than funneling up and out of the economy never to be seen again.

It’s important to prioritize local immediate needs and the wants of residents as cooperative members with society to ensure long-term buy-in. What do people really care about? What do WE “need”? How do needs and wants change as the years go by? How do we create and retain value for local residents at all stages of life while complementing city, state, regional, national, and possibly global “demand”? WE should step outside of immediate “wants” and understand the reality of what is needed to achieve prosperity for “ALL”. Every business must prioritize people and OUR planet over profit. We do this by strategically investing in long-term profit that supports positive impact and “community” development.

Challenging the status quo is imperative. It’s time to pivot, break down, improve, and scale for the benefit of all stakeholders. With the right people, resources, and opportunities we can ensure measurable, profitable, and positive impact for every “community”. Let’s build the future we ALL want to see come to fruition. #LetsBuildTogether