Getting a cultivation to grow quickly takes planning, foresight, and coordination. If you want to expedite your facility without creating additional costs, keep these 3 steps in mind:
Step 1
Prepare your Foundational Plan.
“By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” – Benjamin Franklin
Once you’ve selected a site and completed your due diligence, create a high-level plan for the development of your facility. This plan should consider all aspects of how your facility will function and include a schematic of your facility layout with a focus on optimizing production and minimizing operating costs.
With an understanding of your operational flow, budget, equipment, and long-term plan, you’ll have the facts you need to help you right size all items for your facility before final design. This knowledge is essential to aligning your entire project team, plus it will give you a framework to foresee and discuss important future decisions and tackle critical points that may slow down your project in the full design phase.
Step 2
Make your Temporary Grow a Component of Your Permanent Grow.
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” – Pablo Picasso
If your state requires you to be operational quickly to secure a license, any temporary grow solution should be integrated into your permanent grow. Many options exist, such as grow pods, retrofitting an existing structure, or using a temporary structure. No matter the option, design it into your Master Plan. Part of your plan should include the creation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will work for you in the short term and be adapted for the long term.
In addition, once you are beyond the initial planning phase and moving into preconstruction, you should identify long lead time items and equipment so you can execute early procurement to avoid the frustration of future delays.
Step 3
Align your Budget to Fit Your Grow.
“It is not necessary to do extraordinary things to get extraordinary results.” – Warren Buffett
Understanding your budget as it correlates to your specific plan is critical. Many companies overreach when it’s better to maximize efficiency with the resources on hand. Companies that ramp up too fast based on optimistic projections rather than actual market demand often find themselves in trouble.
Designing and building your facility for expansion that is aligned with your fundraising and realistic growth is more achievable. It all starts with proper foundational planning and having the key information and insights on how to best execute on your plans.
About the author: Jeff Lair is Director of Architecture and Engineering at DAG. With experience in nearly 200 cultivation projects, Mr. Lair is one of the leading professionals for creating operational efficiencies and leading successful cultivation projects throughout North America.
