Doing good by Doing good.

I’ve been thinking about that phrase, doing good by doing good a lot these days given the Katrina disaster.

Today, one of our portfolio companies and I worked out a plan to do just that.

We have an investment in a company called GenesisTP.

Part of the mission statement:

“Genesis® is a world leading light-steel building technology and advanced technological breakthrough building solution. Currently used to build residential and commercial structures throughout the world, Genesis features structural-grade, galvanized steel framing materials, in lieu of traditional softwood lumber, concrete or masonry block construction.”

Genesis can create panelized kits which are complete light steel buildings delivered to building sites for assembly. Our investment centers around the amazing (at least to me) technology which makes all this possible.  The facility where we crank out the buildings is, in effect, our lab and revenue to continue building out the systems which we believe are key to a great investment.

What all that means is we have a facility that can turn out homes, elder care facilities, condo projects, apartment buildings, churches, strip malls, etc, that are rated to withstand 160mph wind, in effect a Cat 4 hurricane. They are cost comparable to wood, will go up fast and will stay up.

In light of all the towns that are not in the press spotlight and seeing relief trucks flying by, we thought it would be a great idea to try and go in to help rebuild some homes. Donate some homes, in kits, that can replace the structures which were destroyed. Maybe homes, maybe a senior care facility, small town heath clinic, etc. The point is that we will donate a bunch of this to try and help.

Next. We believe that we have a solution here that can help for the next time which is likely.  FEMA is casting all over for housing solutions and, not surprising, many are cashing in on this windfall of gov’t contracts. Shameful price gouging but that’s for another day/post.

Given our focus on the systems, we’d like to offer up our facilities to FEMA, claims adjusters, etc, as a way to maximize the dollars spent for the rebuild plus put something up that will stay up.  We aren’t looking to make our money/fame/fortune in the buildings rather the systems/IP we are creating so pretty near ‘at cost’, I hope, will afford many  the opportunity to rebuild faster/better/cheaper.

And this time the places will ( I hope) stay up.

From the blogging community readers/bloggers, I’d like to ask for a few things:

1. If you know your way around FEMA, the feds or local gov’t and would be willing to help us get involved, please contact me at 416.367.2279 or rick@jlaventures.com.  We’re not looking for a consultant to help us cash in on gov’t contracts rather making helping us become known as an “at cost” alternative to rebuilding options. We want to help, not rip off my country in a time of need so don’t call unless you can help.

2. If you can help us with finding a small town that really got hammered, is “off the grid” so to speak, please contact me as we’d like to donate as much as we can to help rebuild.  If you know of local officials who are trying to get stuff rebuilt and want an ‘at cost’ type solution, please get in touch with me as we can build/deploy hundreds of homes/bldgs per week and would be glad to donate time, effort and margin to help.

3. This is a case of where the “A” list bloggers can help so please help with some link love and get them to send smart people my way so we can help rebuild.

I’m hopeful I can start the process of getting towns to adopt smaller towns that have been destroyed.  This is a first step.

Our company will do good by doing good so your ideas and suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks.

Comments

[Nik Kalyani]

That's a very thoughtful gesture and sounds like a perfect solution. I live in Washington, D.C. and will push the link to this blog post to as many people as I know locally. Hopefully, it will get to a person who can make this happen in short order.

Also, I think the chances of getting this to move quickly are much better if this information can get to a U.S. Senator or Rep who can champion the rebuilding effort.

Nik

[james governor]

I wonder if it would make sense to contact Habitat for Humanity about this?

[Ed Brenegar]

Rick,
Read about your idea at GapingVoid.

I'm working on connecting Presbyterian churches across the country to churches in the hurricane zone. My interest is in long-term partnership for both church restoration and community rebuilding.

What you offer fits within that plan.

Here's my suggestion for how you should approach this.

Clean up is going to take some time. So what is needed now is a communication strategy that gets Genesis before all the small, local organizations that will be involved in community rebuilding. Many of these will be churches.

I'd create a specialized blog and online forum focused on how to rebuild the building infrastructure of whole towns. For example, there is a forum operated by the Presbyterian Church that is focused on Displaced Persons - http://pcusadisplaced.forumsplace.com/index.php . A similar forum could be established to start the conversation that leads communities forward in understanding what is needed to rebuild.

I don't think you can avoid working with local governments. But you can position yourself best by making sure you have local support.

If you want to talk about this, give me a call at 828/275-1803.

Oh, one last thought, this is going to be a very long process for these communities. We who live outside of the hurricane zone need manage our emotions and expectations for what is to happen. It is more important to do what we can now, with a eye to next September still being involved in helping.

[the head lemur]

small town big need
http://akma.disseminary.org/archives/2005/09/katrina_and_dav.html

http://weblog.burningbird.net/archives/2005/09/10/critters-for-critters/

[Aaron Gregory]

Hello, everyone.

We're on the same page - the Katrina devastation is simply a tragedy - in the dictionary, under tragedy, is a 50-mile-up photo of New Orleans, and the surrounding areas similarly impacted.

I know of a company that specializes in fast construction, hurricane-wind-resistant houses. Although it sounds opportunist in nature, it is a good opportunity to get real houses back in to the area, should the ground be stable for it. Most of all, they are extremely inexpensive!

If anyone down there is interested, I will ask him to give a call - shoot me an email. I know the president, and he would be overjoyed to get the business, and personally go down to help!

Thanks, and our best to all of those dealing with this terrible situation.

Aaron