Giveaway to celebrate our funding!
To celebrate that we reached 100% funding (we are so happy)… We would like to organise a GIVEAWAY for our backers.
Rules: You must be a backer of the project by the end of the campaign (our goal is to get at least 1250 people backing the project! So let’s try to make this happen together :)). We will choose three winners with an innocent hand :).
Thank you so much K2 Skis, Black Diamond, Marmot and of course Patagonia to support our project!
Things to win:
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1. Current Situation
What started this ball rolling? An article about the possible loss of one of the most authentic mountain villages in the world: La Grave.
For decades La Grave has been a paradise for free riding, cycling, mountaineering and for those who live there. The beauty of this place strikes any visitor right in the heart. Inhabitants and mountaineers feel part of a very unique community of people, intrinsically connected with the alpine surroundings.
This very special balance between man and nature is at risk however!
The lift that makes this community thrive is due for a new lease. The lurking danger is that large corporations will bid for the contract and will engulf this authentic ski village.
We absolutely want to protect the authenticity of this magnificent alpine village. We believe that La Grave belongs to the community. Without the lift there is no community and without this community there is no lift. Our aim is to take matters in hand and to do justice to this place.
Un résumé en français de notre projet peut être trouvé ici.
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2. Our Plans
We have formed a non-profit, with the mission to boost sustainable development in the region and obtain the lease to the lift. What we need to focus on, is straightforward, La Grave's unique and authentic strengths namely world class:
- skiing
- snowboarding
- MTB
- cycling
- climbing
- hiking
But to make this happen we need two things.
First, we need to demonstrate to the Mayor that we really represent the interests of the people who love La Grave in its unique form. By donating money to us — even just €10 — you will be giving us your vote of support. We will register your name on a large sign at the entrance to town, for all to see.
Second, we need money to pay for a small staff to initiate the plans we have formally submitted to the Mayor at the end of October. This staff will also secure the further finances necessary to upgrade the lift over the coming few years. So while any donation is good, the more you can donate, the better you will help us reach our goal.
Here is our call to you: each euro you contribute will be a message to world and the village that we can do this together!
Le Signal de La Grave in the press:
French:
International:
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3. Steps taken
For the non-profit!
We founded the non-profit Le Signal de La Grave early October. This non-profit embodies our love for the wild surrounding of La Grave and its region.
For the lift!
In August 2016 we have examined the tender documents and processes. Our team formally registered our interest and we visited the Téléphérique on August 4th. We also initiated visits to other elevator infrastructures of the same type, particularly those of Verbier and Courmayeur.
After careful study of the tender documents, we think agreeing to all tender terms is not viable. Only big operators with other agendas could agree to such terms. We are convinced that it is possible to submit a non-fully compliant response to the tender document.
We have submitted the tender under our preferred terms to propose to the « Commune » an alternative approach, integrating the operation of the Téléphérique in a comprehensive sustainable soft local development program in line with our values.
This would take the form a « Public Private Partnership » harnessing the enthusiasm, resources and funding of all stakeholders. The non-profit - together with all of you - would act as an anchor and sponsor.
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If we don't get the lease of the lift we will be committed to striving for a more sustainable and inclusive future for La Grave.
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4. Commitment to Sustainability
We believe that we must all contribute to giving the world a more sustainable future. This is why we want to place this project in a wider context of trying to make La Grave a benchmark for sustainable village operations. We hope that our project may prove that harmony between man and nature is important and possible.
To make the push toward a more sustainable La Grave we will focus on the following points:
- international alliances
- 100% sustainable energy
- local food production
- waste to resource
Summing up, we want to make the village sustainable by focusing on its strengths and long-term opportunities. Our ideal is to make La Grave the greenest and most authentic outdoor village in the world!
5. You can help to reinvent the Alps
We need to show the world and the Mayor of La Grave that the community is alive and kicking and that there are grass-root options apart from the big corporations with a lot of capital. The community wants to safeguard the village it is so attached to.
By backing this project you show a commitment to a brighter future! You will state that special, authentic places have a right to exist on their own. You give the message that not everything should be part of an ever-growing large scale corporation.
This project can have an impact on the way people experience the mountains and alpine culture. Mountain villages are unique and fragile and need to be managed in a caring and dedicated way!
6. Risks
As we have pointed out, we are only small fish trying to fight against ski resort giants. But we hope to have sensitised you of what is at stake. We can only win this battle if we can show the commune (i.e. the elected people of La Grave) what a conscious, convinced and thriving community like La Grave is capable of: namely presenting a long term view in a responsible way.
We are committed to do our utmost best to fulfilling all the perks we have presented to you. If the lift would end operations we will try to come up with a good alternative that has the same value as the one you have chosen.
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7. Other ways you can help
This campaign is part of a movement aspiring to a new kind of localism. It is inspired by people who care for authentic experiences in perfect harmony with nature.
If you share this belief and if you have some time to spare, do not hesitate to share, like and spread the word as much as you can. It is only when we stand together that will we do justice to this place.
So spread the word and help us try to reach people who might be interested in our cause! Check out our Facebook page!
8. Investments in Lift
We have investigated the investments required to keep the lift going. The following picture shows how we see the ratio of the investments. Together with our investors we are still improving and optimising the allocation of the budgets so as to invest rightly and effectively.
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In the following we shed more light on the different costs.
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Cabines: they need to be refurbished. The door locking system needs to be updated and the windows need a makeover so that the wonderful environment is more visible during the ride up!
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Sustainable energy: our goal is to set an example of sustainability in the niche of mountain villages. We partnered up with a company that would install solar panels to make the first move toward green energy.
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Downhill MTB: La Grave is best known for skiing but this terrain is not only special for winter sports, it has a high potential for downhill mountain biking too, and we want to stimulate it.
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Ticketing system: the ticketing system is outdated. We want people to be able to pay with their smartphones. This should all be upgraded so that is quick and easy. The aim is to boost the service level which should be top notch.
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Restaurant: the restaurant at 2400 m needs some repairs. We will have to boost the consumption of local products in all the restaurants and this new assortment needs new kinds of presentation as well.
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Building at 3200 m: the building at 3200 m is situated in an extraordinary spot. The view is amazing! People should be able to drink coffee there, have a chat and enjoy the exquisite environment.
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Lift configuration: they are very important parts of the lift and thus need to be taken great care of. We will give the pylons a new layer of protective coating to make sure they withstand the coming decades of bare weather conditions. The engines that drive the lift need a facelift. We could invest in more energy efficient systems that would diminish the need for energy.
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Electric circuit: all the circuits need renewed official approval and thus serious upgrades. This is very important to make the lift safe and reliable.
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Varia: next to the points we elaborated on above we also need to do some smaller investments. We need an updated website containing the new ticketing system. We need to repaint the stations (P1, P2, P3). We need to buy new working stations for the employees. Some ground works are required for safety reasons.
9. Contact
Please contact us with feedback or great ideas! You can always reach us via our Facebook page or on signaldelagrave@gmail.com.