Going Green: A Concept That's Certainly Not "All Washed Up"
Renna Roberts-Gore of Orlando, Florida writes:
I am “Going Green”!! I am a 43 year old Woman who is married and living in Orlando with my Husband and Son. I am a Veteran of the Navy and worked 18 years as a Paramedic. My dream though, is to leave a Legacy through Green Laundromats.
My aim is to acquire funding for this first model. If I build it they will come!! There are simple ways to improve our lives and I believe this is one small step toward that. Envision this: Totally recycled materials to build my Laundry, from roof to floors. Solar energy throughout. Energy efficient toilets. Smart Washers/dryers that communicate when they are almost done to the user. No coins: loadable cards, regular Credit and Debit only. Green Detergents/Cleaners/Toiletries. Solar Heaters.This land will have a Well hopefully it will be fenced and Security will be on staff. Recycled water used for flushing the toilets (half a gallon compared to our regular toilets which use about 7), watering the landscaping and routed back to the washers/dryers. The water will also be used to feed the community. How?, some will be routed to a hydroponic system of sorts for use in a greenhouse where we’ll have lettuce, kale, tomatoes, strawberries and other foods, with no unhealthy extras. There will be charging stations outside for cars and solar powered strips in the parking area for night use. Green Vending Machines with healthy snacks and fresh food in a small lounge. This is the only place where food/liquid consumption will be allowed. I am already saving here so those savings will be passed on to my customers. Pick up/Drop off Service will be available (Smart Vehicles). The aim is to achieve a “0” energy building in a short time. There are several heavy traffic areas here in need of my business. Then I have expanded my Vision to include Branding/Licensing through Franchising. This is geared to helping others become sure about their Future–with an opportunity to own after an agreed period with set guidelines for operation. Legacy building opportunities. I also want my Employees to be paid well enough with full benefits after a year. They should live well and be able to own their own homes. I see a movement starting from this, so this model has to be PERFECT!!!. I can help change how we live and this is the way to do it. I’d like to provide business opportunities for us.
To give back to the Community washing will be done on a specific day monthly for Women’s Shelters, Homeless Centers and Hospice. Everyone is going “Green” and it pleases the Government, so this is why I’m writing to you. I hear this Organization help and I choose to believe this is where I will gather funding through.
You may ask what makes me think I can do this. Well, I don’t think I know because my Grandmother worked in a Laundry for 20 plus years and I worked along with her many hours, so I know this is an easy enough business to run and I believe in this with everything in me.
I am trying to raise $700,000.00 to fund this through: Grants/Crowdfunding/Venture Capital/Philanthropy that supports my Green effort or any other Legal means. I wonder if you can help me. If you’d like to talk about this with me, discuss my options, and you can see my vision please reach out to me.
I’ve had 3 dreams that have haunted me forever. (1) To become a Published Author. (2) To Own/Operate a chain of Green Laundries. (3) To Own/Operate a Green Animal Sanctuary. First edit on my Book is on the 20th–in a few days. I will be Published in early January. I expect to cut the ribbon on my Laundry on April 22nd of next year–(Earth Day). My Sanctuary will come later. Dreams do come true!!! Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you. This is HUGE!!!!!!
Renna Roberts-Gore
Orlando Florida
407-203-1030
I respond:
How cool it is to read this! You’re obviously a person with a wonderful heart.
I’m going to presume you’ve exhausted your supply of “friends and family” investors; that would be the most logical starting point. If that’s the case, I think you’re on the right path with crowdfunding; in all honesty, it doesn’t seem like something a profit-oriented investor would want to take on.
I would also point out that you really don’t need a chain of such laundromats. You could build one and promote the heck out of it. I’m sure you’ll get a huge amount of free and very positive publicity in the local press, not to mention referrals from all the other parties you name here.
I’m going to publish this on my blog, so that readers can contact you if they’re interested.
Best of luck!
