Vision
To be a profitable and sustainable association that will facilitate greater earnings with the original agricultural producers and facilitate sustainable agricultural practices in rural communities.
Objectives
• A sustainable non-profit association that will run a mobile slaughter facility, USDA processing facility, composting facility and marketing department. This will be a community based business.
• To pool products and services for increased distribution efficiency and profitability.
• To assess the community customers needs, via feasibility study, marketing strategy and Rancher/Farmer/Consumer to Rancher/Farmer/Consumer meetings
Goals
1. Draw up an organizational chart of the enterprise
2. Prepare the operational business plan for the first year’s activity.
3. Obtain non-profit status
4. Negotiate contracts for the supply of necessary products and service (inputs) and as required sales or marketing contracts
5. Devise and implement an ad hoc accounting system
6. Define the duties and responsibilities of each position
7. Redefine financial figures and budgets.
8. Organize start-up financing
• Determine the value of the membership share to become a member
• Evaluate the value of the share capital on start-up and during the first three years of operation ( in terms of expected growth in the number of members
• Prepare the preferred share by-laws (if applicable)
• Prepare the loan by-laws (if applicable)
• Draw up the overall financial plan for the first three years of operation
• Draw up the business plan
• Negotiate the capital contribution of external financial partners (if necessary); venture capital corporations, private funds, or public investment programs.
• Apply for a government start-up grant
• Negotiate medium term credit or BOLC loans and a line of credit.
9. Research needs and services for the community via town-hall or person to person type meetings.
10. Set-up the association with a lawyer and accountant.
11. Research sales interest with Whole Foods market, or other retail health food stores.