Avalon Keep Botanical Gardens | Application Preview
Avalon Keep Botanical Gardens is seeking government grants to improve its infrastructure by building roads and installing utilities for community solar and septic systems, as well as completing a dam and spillway.
The business plan aims to diversify revenue streams by offering venue rentals, which are finally recovering from COVID-19 impacts, and introducing cabins for guests who struggle to find temporary or honeymoon housing. The project focuses on community sustainability by offering 16 parcels that will share a communal solar array and septic system, greatly reducing individual utility costs and environmental impact.
The application argues that there is a rising demand for sustainable living environments as people leave urban areas, often disrupting local ecosystems. Avalon Keep hopes to establish itself as a self-sustaining community with privacy and independence for its residents. The location's proximity to Hochatown, a rapidly growing and costly area, presents an opportunity for unique development that emphasizes environmental preservation, cutting the need for land clearing and utility installations significantly compared to traditional rural housing.
Avalon Keep's community solar initiative will allow homeowners to produce their own energy, thereby reducing reliance on an unstable local grid and alleviating burdens on utility services during adverse weather events. The solar array will utilize otherwise unused space on the dam, fostering energy efficiency for residents and generating funding for upkeep of common areas.
The competitive landscape reveals a lack of solar-powered venues in the area, with most competitors operating seasonal, less energy-efficient facilities. Avalon Keep sets itself apart through year-round operations, a focus on sustainability, and proximity to natural attractions, including the expansive Lake Wilhelmina. The combination of unique amenities, thoughtful resource management, and expertise in energy consulting solidifies Avalon Keep's position as a pioneering entity in sustainable community development.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 85-2078582
Location: Mena, AR, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: $100k to $250k
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
Build roads and install infrastructure for community solar and septic utilities. Completion of dam and spillway.
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Business Plan
Venue rentals are just now recovering from the covid shutdowns. Meanwhile, we are adding cabins that provide housing for our guests which are primarily from out of state and have difficulty finding local temporary or honeymoon housing. We also seek to develop the water potential on our property and will offer 16 parcels which will share in a community solar array and group septic system. Instead of paying individual utility bills every month, the neighborhood will largely provide its own power from renewable sources providing funds for maintaining roads and the community septic system. This will also provide funding for common areas and reduce effect of the neighborhood on the environment requiring very few trees to be cut compared to conventional rural housing. Our area is in high demand for people leaving cities or retiring. This is wreaking havoc to the local environment and we feel there is a strong sentiment for a hybrid community that seeks to be as self sustaining and cooperative as possible while allowing residents as much privacy and independence as residents may desire. We are located less than one hour from Hochatown, Oklahoma, one of the fastest, and over priced communities in the nation. We are determined to make Lake Avalon Estates a leader in common sense self sustaining development. Instead of requiring 3-5 acres of land to be cleared for homesites and rural utility installations, this environmental damage and waste is reduced by 60-85%. With a neighborhood solar array, homeowners can afford to produce most, if not all their own energy along with on site storage. This lessens dependence on a very unstable local grid and eliminates added workload for local linemen during ice events. Whereas, our own home is powered by solar energy, we know it is a money saving investment. Furthermore, a community array eliminates equipment redundancies. Specifically, our array will be located in the open full solar south slope of our lake dam which otherwise is unused space. As each homeowner joins the neighborhood, they will add the necessary panels to offset their consumption. This leaves our homeowners the option of enjoying additional energy efficiency of a shaded roof if they so desire. Whereas, Lake Avalon will provide most or all electrical power to its homeowners, there will be only one meter charge connected to the main power house. This resource is maintained at a favorable rate that saves residents money and creates an additional source of cash flow for the HOA to maintain common areas, parks, roads, drainage, expand services, etc. Lake Avalon will be the largest private lake in Polk County.
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Self Identified Competition
No area event venue is supported by solar energy. Virtually all our competitors are barns which operate seasonally. Our facility Is well insulated for comfort and energy efficiency. It operates year around. Our competitors operate only during the temperate seasons April thru October and seldom remain in business more than 3 years. There are no other area neighborhood developments that have put the forethought into a community supported solar array or community septic seep system to control ground disturbance and water quality. The nearest rental cabins of our quality and class with waterfront attraction is located a half hour to our southeast. They are operated by our friends and we work cooperatively. We are located within one mile of 400 acre Lake Wilhelmina. It is the largest public fishing lake within an hour drive from our location. There are no rental cabins within five miles of our location. Sustainability, thoughtful use of natural resources, unique natural amenities onsite and nearby including sweeping views of Rich Mountain on which Queen Wilhelmina State Park. No other venue or community development combines the natural resources of our property. As an experienced energy consultant, I am uniquely qualified to utilize solar energy to its maximum potential.
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