When I moved back to Vancouver in 2005, I learned that a local manufacturing company was up for sale.  I was very concerned that a sale could mean the Vancouver facility was closed and around 80 jobs would be lost.  I spent the next 16 months developing a business plan and then recruiting a venture capital company to make a bid for the assets.  In the end, another company was able to justify a higher bid.  Luckily, the Vancouver facility was not closed.