The chief administrative officer of the Town of Mulgrave says they’re considering the co-operative approach to economic development.
Darlene Berthier Sampson says they want to get some independence and control of their own future.
After June’s regular town council meeting Monday night, Berthier Sampson said they’ve done some preliminary investigation.
“Right now, there is no convenience store or market or anything,” she said. “All the money coming into Mulgrave is like the ‘leaky bucket’ example we did with the StFX Extension (Department)- it’s leaving the town.”
Berthier Sampson says the co-op model has worked in communities like Cheticamp, and they’d like to follow a similar approach.
She said some residents are already behind the idea.
“People expressed their interest in this,” she said. “Are they now willing to put their money where their mouth is, and become owners in a co-operative?”
Berthier Sampson said the next step is to do some research within the town during the summer, including community consultations and questionnaires, and try to form a working group by September.
She said $18,500 is set aside in the town’s new budget to buy three parcels of land if they decide to move forward.
