The grassroots organizers for Comtrax Logistics Solutions was happy with the response to the series of 11 information meetings held around southeastern Saskatchewan, and will now take some time to assess the response and plan for their next steps.
鈥淭he response to the meetings was excellent overall. We had a couple of meetings that were smaller in attendance than we had anticipated they would be, but we chalk that up to bad weather for the most part a couple of afternoons,鈥� said committee member Dan Cugnet.
鈥淥verall, so far we have presented to approximately 250 producers, as well as numerous accountants, investment fund types, grain traders and industry folks,鈥� he added.
Comtrax is proposing a $75-million commodities hub on the Soo Line Railway, on a location yet to be determined between Midale and Milestone.
The goal, as stated at the public meetings, is to raise about $30 million from producers, based on the number of producers and the size of crops in the area, along with the possibility of other commodities that could use the hub, such as for shipping crude oil, fertilizer or aggregate.
The series of meetings included Regina, Ogema, Carlyle, Estevan, Radville, Oungre, Milestone, Corning, Montmartre along with Weyburn.
Asked about the level of support shown for their venture, Cugnet replied, 鈥淥ur capital commitments from this fundraising drive have been significant towards our goal and over the next month we plan to follow up with the farmers we presented to and have a lot of one-on-ones to secure that further funding and commitment for the next step we feel we require to proceed.鈥�
The group plans to do more meetings as they have been requested to do so from different areas and farmers.
鈥淲e were extremely pleased with the meetings and encouraged from the feedback and engagement thus far to proceed on our present course,鈥� Cugnet said.
