Together we can grow communities.

· Enable communities to raise money locally and invest these funds into local economic development. 

· Can provide access to a local pool of capital to finance new and/or existing businesses; which then create jobs, and access to needed goods and services within the community. 

· Can purchase or develop commercial properties (retail spaces, seniors/affordable housing, etc.).  

· Are managed by a local Board of Directors who are elected by its membership. 

· Profits are generated through the local investment, and interest or dividends are distributed it to the investors involved in those projects. 

Once formed, an ODC determines the scope of potential investments by assessing community needs. The members of the ODC review these investment opportunities and decides where to direct the funds. 

They then collect local money by selling Membership and Community Co-operative shares to community members. The ODC then invests the funds into the selected business venture(s). 

Over time, the ODC may have many share offerings to mobilize local money and invest in a variety of businesses in the community.   

As the invested business prospers and loans are repaid, the ODC investors receive a return of their original capital and interest or dividends for any excess returns on their investment based upon this success. They do not receive discounts or any other extra benefits from the underlying business.