Barriers to Participation in the Unleashing Local Capital Project

Abstract

Unleashing Local Capital (ULC) was initiated and is managed by the Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ACCA). The project empowers rural Alberta communities to invest locally, direct their own economic development and reduce dependency on government supports by directing outward-bound investments towards local businesses, keeping local capital flowing through local communities. ULC educates communities on how to establish an Opportunity Development Co-operative (ODC) – a co-op that pools and manages capital raised from local investors, which is then invested in local businesses. ULC has also directly supported the development of ODCs in several communities. This report is the result of formative evaluation for ACCA of the early development of ULC.