FBeing part of a cicada means above all wanting to invest in the social and solidarity economy. To invest usefully », summarizes Marie-Sylvie Beigbeder, 72 years old from Fléac, member of the Cigale Thunes Ethiques. The Cigales model, these investor clubs for alternative and local management of solidarity savings, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. In Charente…
FBeing part of a cicada means above all wanting to invest in the social and solidarity economy. To invest usefully », summarizes Marie-Sylvie Beigbeder, 72 years old from Fléac, member of the Cigale Thunes Ethiques. The Cigales model, these investor clubs for alternative and local management of solidarity savings, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. In Charente, there were a few attempts around forty years ago, but they have really returned since 2011. Seven are currently active, five are in management, they no longer invest but continue to support projects that they supported, and one is completed.
In eleven years, they have supported around 25 projects for a total amount of just under 110,000 euros.
In Charente the average investment of cigaliers is 30 euros per month. The key is to commit to five years.
” The principle is quite simple “, explains Dominique Lorent, Cigales representative in Charente. “ It is a group of 5 to 20 citizens, with us there are more between 8 and 14, who decide to pool part of their savings in order to invest in local businesses. » No need to roll in gold, the minimum investment is 7.50 euros per month for five years. “In Charente, the average is 30 euros per month. But the key is to make a long-term commitment. »
The Cigales meet about once a month to study projects and keep up to date with news of projects already supported. “On average, a Cigales supports one project per year, to the tune of 4,000 euros, but it can be a little more or a lot less, it is the needs of the entrepreneur that guides our choices”, insists Dominique Lorent. The cigaliers analyze the financial data of the project, but also the project itself. “I am especially attached to the personality of the project leader”, confides Maryse Gaillard, member of Investir Benèze and Thunes Ethiques.
“We are venture capitalists”
Sometimes, cicadas even group together around a project, as for Fabri K Watt, the first electricity production cooperative in Charente, in which five cicadas invested 15,500 euros in total, or Les companions du végétal which two cicadas helped to finance a truck for 9,000 euros.
“For us, the investment of the cicadas was a trigger for other financial support, in particular the bank loan, that’s certain”estimates Pierre-Jean Fichet, president of the cooperative of L’autre bookstore, in which three cicadas invested in 2019, to the tune of 10,000 euros.
“We are venture capitalists”, specifies Jacques Bouhier, former director of Scotpa, and member of the cicada Les Batégails. “By investing, sometimes we take a stake in the company, we share the risk with the entrepreneur over a period of five years. At the end of these five years, the contractor must reimburse us for our money so that we can reinvest in other projects. »
The gardens of Isis, for example, an association which organizes numerous activities around the knowledge of wild edible and medicinal plants and environmental education, were supported in 2018 to the tune of 6,000 euros for the transformation of a kitchen barn for its workshops. And paid everything back.
More than financial support
On the contrary, « cSome projects do not work, such as Le potager d’à passant, a platform which allowed consumers to be linked with people who had excess fruit or vegetables in their vegetable garden.says Bernard Chillet, 69, from Angoulême, member of Chap’ti then Batégails. “That’s part of the risk, we know that,” smiles the cigalier. But it still remains my best experience as a cicada tree, and it was very useful while it lasted. I do not regret. »
The support of a cicada does not stop at a financial investment: “We also try to support entrepreneurs or project leaders as best we can, by making our skills and our networks available to them”explained Dominique Lorent.
Bernard Chillet, who has, for example, worked in a local authority, gives advice on completing grant applications. “I know the elected officials well, how they work, sometimes it helps to open doors. » Jacques Bouhier shares his knowledge of the cooperative model in particular with the entire Charente network of cicadas.
“What we lack today is to make ourselves known. So that more projects reach us »estimate the Charentais cigaliers.
Friday, November 3, the Courte-cale cigale is organizing a round table on local citizen financing initiatives, at the Chassagne farms in Villefagnan at 7:30 p.m.
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