Mobility

Investing in mobility is a strategic move for our community, as many of us already rely on platforms like Uber and Lyft, both as users and drivers. By creating our own cooperative mobility service, we can retain more of the earnings within our community, empower drivers with ownership stakes, and develop tailored solutions that cater to our specific needs. This approach not only enhances financial returns but also fosters sustainable, community-driven growth. By investing where we already spend, we transform everyday expenses into long-term wealth-building opportunities for the entire community..

Accomodation

Groceries

Groceries are an essential expense, and the average Canadian household spends about $10,000 per year on food. If we estimate that 1,000 households within our community are spending similar amounts, that results in $10 million per year being spent on groceries. Currently, much of this money supports external businesses and grocery chains.

By investing in a community-owned grocery store, we could redirect a portion of this spending into our cooperative. Even capturing 30% of the community’s grocery spending would mean $3 million per year circulating within our own store, generating profits that can be redistributed among members. Assuming a modest 10% profit margin, that’s an additional $300,000 per year in profits that could be shared with cooperative members or reinvested into expanding the store. Over a period of 5 years, this would result in $1.5 million in shared returns, while also providing affordable, quality food for our community..

Car Service/Rental

Housing costs are one of the largest financial burdens for families. In Canada, the average household spends about 30% of their income on rent, with the typical rent for a two-bedroom apartment in cities like Ottawa averaging around $1,700 per month. If we estimate that 400 families in our community are renting at this rate, that totals $680,000 per month or $8.16 million per year flowing out of the community to external landlords.

By establishing a community-owned housing cooperative, we could retain a substantial portion of this spending within our cooperative. If we capture even 40% of this amount by providing affordable housing to our members, that’s $3.26 million annually that remains within our community. Over 10 years, this would accumulate to $32.6 million in capital that could be reinvested in additional housing projects, profit-sharing among members, and increasing the financial stability of the community.

In addition, cooperative members would benefit from long-term equity growth, as they would have ownership stakes in the properties they live in, contributing to wealth accumulation rather than simply paying rent..