Spring 2013 netWA news update from CooperationWorks! rks—the center of excellence for cooperative business development What’s Through Recession, CooperationWorks New Members Assist in Job Growth

ook around. What’s in the news? pact of our members’ work, collecting maximizing the impact of Federal Media is flooded with stories data from 18 member Centers about funds they receive. For every $1,362 L about an unstable economy, cost business development performance Federal dollars invested in a CW CooperationWorks! of living increases and wage stagna- and job creation. This survey is a Center in 2011, a job was saved or is a member service tion, and volatile gas prices. Within continuation of a study conducted in created. With fewer staff and Federal cooperative of cooperative this economic distress are beacons 2009. resources, CW Centers’ efficiency is business development of hope, stories about the positive Between 2009 and 2011, CW comparable to the much larger Small professionals working together impact co-op development is having Centers assisted in the development Business Administration, who in 2010 to revitalize communities on our economy and within com- of 276 new businesses, of which 154 reported $1,760 of federal funds munities. It is work being supported, were cooperatives. During this period, spent for every job created. through effective cooperative in part, by members of Cooperation- 6,050 jobs were created or saved. The The ability of CW Centers to enterprise development. Works. The impact of Cooperation- projects highlighted in this issue of impact both rural and urban com- Works (CW) is not just illustrated Networks alone created over 20 jobs, munities is stretched by leveraging with stories of human triumph, but it and as important restored essential these Federal funds — $2,847,121 of is proven in numbers. services in rural communities. non-Federal funds were leveraged in To learn more about Over the past year, CW conducted The survey results proved CW CooperationWorks! a survey to measure the economic im- Centers to be highly capable at JOB GROWTH cont. on pg. 16 contact: SARAH PIKE CO-OP JOBS IMPACTED email: Jobs Saved and Created by Each Center (median) [email protected] web: 2008 2009 2010 2011 www.cooperationworks.coop 43.5

15 12 11 11 Jobs saved 2 4.75 3.75 Jobs created NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT June ‘08 Employed Labor Force (number in thousands) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 145,738 June ‘09 June ‘10 June ‘11

140,003 139,137 139,385

Inside: CenterNews CooperationWorks! members facilitate a broad range of critical cooperative busi- ness development activities that enhance income and economic opportunity in com- munities across the county. Some of the Centers’ current projects are detailed inside. Center News

The Co-op Market Grocery & Deli is planning a soft CW Officers ALASKA COOPERATIVE opening in March. A formal, grand opening, is planned Chair DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM for later in the spring. In the near future we will see how Deb Trocha For information, contact Andrew Crow at the store opens opportunities for farmers and ranchers Indiana Cooperative 907-786-5447 or [email protected] in Interior, Alaska. In the meantime, if you happen to Development Center find yourself in the land of the midnight sun, stop by the The Alaska Cooperative Development Program (ACDP) is a part round building on Gaffney Street and see the store the Past Chair of the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development at people of Fairbanks have built for themselves with some Stuart Reid Anchorage. It was organized to foster development of cooperative help from USDA. Food Co-op Initiative business enterprises in rural Alaska, and to help Alaska producers and consumers use cooperatives to provide economic base activi- Vice Chair ties that can spur rural economic development. CALIFORNIA CENTER for Bill Stevenson Rocky Mountain Farmers Union COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT Cooperative Development Center Farthest North Food Co-op Opens! For information, contact Kim Coontz at By the time you read this, the Nation’s farthest north 530-297-1032 or [email protected] Secretary food co-op will be open for business in the old Foodland Bob Noble Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Fairbanks Community The California Center for Cooperative Development promotes Keystone Development Center Cooperative Market is the realization of an idea sparked cooperatives as a vibrant business model to address the eco- in 2006 by Dave Lacy, a Fairbanks activist. Since then the nomic and social needs of California’s communities by provid- Treasurer project has been moved along by a host of people and ing education, coordination, and technical assistance. Sarah Tyree organizations, even surviving Dave’s death to cancer. On CoBank Using Cooperatives to Transform Communities the eve of its opening the co-op has 1500 members, who A testament to the adaptive use of the cooperative have raised nearly $1.6 million dollars. The store has Member at-Large business model is the upsurge of worker cooperatives hired 7 employees, and expects to have 19 on staff when Emily Lippold Cheney developed to create jobs in underserved communities. Independent Consultant they are fully open, but its potential The California Center for Cooperative Development has impact is much greater. embarked on the creation of such cooperatives in two More than 90 percent of Fair- CIRCLE CHAIRS California communities: Richmond, an urban commu- bank’s food is imported from Leadership nity near San Francisco, and Lompoc, a rural community other states. All this imported Deb Trocha about 250 miles northwest of Los Angeles. food comes thousands of miles Indiana Cooperative Besides their urban/rural differences Richmond and either through one port, or Development Center Lompoc are surprisingly alike. Both communities have over one road through Canada. unemployment rates that are among the highest in the Networking Alaska’s agricultural sector is the nation and both are distinguished by distinct inner-com- Emily Lippold Cheney smallest in the nation and is domi- munity income disparities. They are also ethnically and Independent Consultant nated by small farming operations which can’t get much racially diverse, with no distinct majority group. space in large grocery chains. Rob Leach, the co-op’s Susan Davis The cooperative model used in each community is a board chair, expressed the co-op’s approach in comments Independent Consultant non-traditional build and recruit model. Community to the Fairbanks News Miner; “We need to be locally members, who may or may not ultimately be cooperative Membership self-sufficient. If you’re going to wait for government to members, are intricately involved in every aspect of devel- Jan Tusick solve these problems, it’s going to be a long, long wait. We opment—from business idea, economic feasibility study Mission Mountain need to do it locally, and we need to do it for ourselves.” and launch. Cooperative members enter the cooperative Food Enterprise & The co-op has been the vehicle to do just that. The News at the very end of the process. This model is used with Cooperative Development Center Miner pointed out that “[T]he new store has something groups who have very few resources to devote during the Advocacy the other stores never did — a dedicated band of hungry development process. Besides financial constraints, the Tom Pierson locavores willing, literally, to put their money where their most significant resource target members lack is control Independent Consultant mouths are.” over their schedules. They often take casual jobs when Not waiting for the government is not the same as not Professional Development they become available or they have jobs that announce working with government. And the Fairbanks Market has Teresa Young work schedules weekly, or more commonly, one day at Northwest Cooperative made good use of government resources. Over time they Development Center have turned to the Northwest Cooperative Development Center and the Alaska Cooperative Development Program for assistance with basic organization, and have moved on to get more specialized assistance from CDS Consult- ing and the Food Co-op Initiative. All of these organiza- tions receive support from the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program. The co-op has also worked with Golden Valley Electric Association, the local electric coop, to set up a revolving loan fund with a grant from USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants program. 2 This has let the co-op get the most from its efforts and to Lompoc community members created a video and launched a crowd- overcome challenges more quickly. funding campaign through the web-based program Indigogo. They raised more than $7000. a time. This complicates many aspects of their everyday family lives, and also makes commitment to cooperative Lee Ruth: Certified Cooperative Hero development meetings almost impossible. “In development, CCCD contributes the cooperative Lee Ruth, a key leader in the development strated over and over again by his innovative development expertise, partners with local community of CooperationWorks! will be inducted into leadership in so many roles in the cooperative leaders and draws on the best practices from other coop- the “Cooperative Hall of Fame” on May 8, world. erative incubator programs to create unique opportuni- 2013. The Cooperative Hall of Fame award According to longtime cooperative activist, ties for people who would never have the opportunity to was established by the National Cooperative Judy Ziewacz, “Lee Ruth is a cooperative own their own business, or even a secure job that pays Business Association, to honor individuals statesman. He led the fight for resources living wages,” explains Kim Coontz, executive director whose contributions to cooperative business for cooperatives at the state and national of CCCD. “The worker cooperative model offers more have been genuinely heroic. The Cooperative lever; he has used his retirement to create than a good job to underserved individuals; the co-op is Development Foundation (CDF) administers cooperatives in new sectors in California and an opportunity for empowerment, self-development and the annual award; it is also a vehicle to raise overseas. His quiet, steady demeanor belies self-sufficiency.” funds for CDF to perpetuate their work and his passion for helping people gain economic Last April, Liberty Ship Café, a healthy food cater- life-long commitment. security, markets and opportunities through ing cooperative, opened in Richmond. In March, 2013, While Lee’s founda- cooperatives.” Green Broom Brigade, an eco-friendly cleaning coopera- tion in cooperatives When deregula- tive will begin business in Lompoc. Potential members is a distinguished tion of utilities was are required to complete ten hours of cooperative training professional career underway in California, to be eligible for membership. In Lompoc, ten initial with agricultural Lee was at the state candidates completed training on decision-making, cooperatives, including capital lobbying for cooperative finance, reading and understanding financial some 30 years with the cooperative alterna- statements and bylaw education in February. Agricultural Council of tives. He became a key Both worker cooperatives promote worker equality and California, his career player in contemporary incorporate policies established by workers, including is distinguished by his legislation favorable to wages, patronage, scheduling, and task implementation. keen ability to discern electric cooperatives in Because worker cooperatives are established to create jobs effective strategies to the state. Lee is also rather than a financial investment for initial owners, the advance cooperatives involved in internation- cooperatives will continually invite new participants and of every type. al work. Through his provide the same ownership opportunities offered to the His leadership work with ACDI/VOCA original members. helped establish the he has helped form Interest in the development of worker cooperatives as a Center for Coopera- and support farmer tool for economic developments is growing. tives at the University of California, and the cooperatives in Lithuania. In January, CCCD organized a summit of cooperative California Center for Cooperative Develop- According to Bob Marshall, General Man- developers engaged in such development. The goal of ment. Lee’s work on NCBA’s National Rural ager of Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Coopera- the summit was to begin to develop “best practices” for Development Task Force was instrumental in tive, while Lee’s “reputation with agricultural cooperative development that focuses on creating jobs establishing the Rural Cooperative Develop- cooperatives and associations precedes him, for the underserved. The summit was supported with ment Grant, a USDA source of funding for his contribution to the Rural Electric Coopera- funds from two different USDA programs: Small Socially cooperative development that forged the de- tives in California is equally significant. During Disadvantaged Producer Grant and the Rural Cooperative velopment of CooperationWorks! and fuels the California’s brief restructured electricity mar- Development Grant. The summit created a foundational work of its Cooperative Development Centers ketplace, (he) was a key player in the renais- platform for continued collaboration in perfecting this across the United States. sance of the electric cooperative movement.” special form of cooperative development. With the profes- In his support of Lee’s nomination, former Lee Ruth will be honored at the Cooperative sional expertise and commitment of professional coopera- Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 8, tive developers from across the United Sates we all hope Food and Agriculture, Rich Rominger wrote 2013 at the National Press Club in Washing- to expand the adaptive use of cooperative development as “Lee’s conviction and loyalty has been demon- ton, DC. a job growth strategy. Cooperatives and the Restoration Economy CENTER FOR COOPERATIVE In recent years massive wildfires have ripped through FOREST ENTERPRISES the West. These fires are unusually severe; the result of For information, contact Harry Groot at poor forest management and the suppression of the low- 540.639.3077 or [email protected] intensity fires that occurred frequently in those ecosys- tems and kept the forest “cleared out.” The Center for Cooperative Forest Enterprises (CCFE) is the co- Now, after decades of gridlock, environmental organi- operative development center of the National Network of Forest zations and the Forest Service are collaborating on res- Practitioners, which carries out a variety of technical assistance, toration projects that return the forest to a more natural networking, education, and policy projects nationwide. CCFE state. One such project is taking place in the southeast- provides direct support to groups of entrepreneurs in the forest ern Arizona’s Pinaleños Mountains; to reduce the risk of sector, while also partnering with other cooperative development catastrophic fire in the Coronado National Forest, which centers and business support providers working on forest- and currently threatens the habitat for the endangered Mt. 3 wood-related projects across the United States. Graham Red Squirrel and the Mexican Spotted Owl. Center News

Some of the products under consideration: • Animal bedding • Vigas • Cabin logs and trusses • Timberframes • Flooring, paneling, custom moulding • Carving/turning blanks • Post and pole beams • Guardrail posts • Treated lumber • Torrified wood, biochar, charcoal In the “Sky Island” forest, on Mt. Graham, 6,000 ft above the The Pinaleños Ecological Restoration and Business Planning Team Chihuahuan Desert, near Safford, Ariz. • Wattles/biobags While the Ecological Restoration Project is good for rial, and there are a number of higher-value added prod- squirrels, owls, and fire safety, it’s also good for the rural uct lines possible depending on the precise breakdown communities that surround the forest. CCFE is collabo- and availability of raw materials. The project’s potential rating with Federal, State, Tribal, and Municipal agency financial impact is estimated at $6-$75 Million, depend- representatives, Environmental NGOs, and local busi- ing on the final product mix. nesses to develop a cooperative sortyard and downstream With the widespread suppression of fire for most of the cooperative enterprises to use the forest products gener- 20th Century, much of the Western landscape is at risk of ated from the Project. severe wildfire. The potential economic benefit for rural The ecological restoration component is managed by communities to use restoration-project generated mate- the National Wild Turkey Federation. The 10 year-long rial is massive, and the need to mitigate fires and restore ecological restoration project was designed with purely habitats is urgent. The Pinaleños Ecological Restoration ecological objectives; however the potential for growing Project is a model of collaborative problem solving and businesses and creating new jobs using the stream of raw cooperative business development. materials spurred the Project Team to invite CCFE to participate. Others collaborating include GilaWoodNet in nearby Silver City, NM, the San Carlos Apache, Saf- COOPERATIVE ford government, local business leaders, USFS, and the DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE regional SBDC. For information, contact Noemi Giszpenc at CCFE, and a consultant with GilaWoodNet are devel- 413-665-1271 or [email protected] oping a Woody Biomass Analysis and Utilization Plan to define business development potential. “Currently, 30 The Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) increases eco- product lines have been identified and evaluated for their nomic opportunities and benefits for people in the Northeast by feasibility,” explains Harry Groot of CCFE. The analyses fostering the growth and success of all types of cooperative enter- will next be presented to the community and interested prises by providing education, training and technical assistance business leaders. to existing and startup cooperatively-structured enterprises. The centerpiece of the venture will be a cooperatively run sortyard where participating businesses will aggregate Stronger Together: Cooperative Farms materials and distribute them to their best use. Currently, Farmers and consumers are using worker, consumer, the San Carlos Apache are negotiating to buy all sawlogs shared services and marketing cooperatives to turn farm- for their mill. Other local businesses have expressed in- to-fork trends into businesses based in local community terest in the lowest-grade material for use in mulch, fuel, connections. and erosion-control products. The five farmers who own the Diggers Mirth Collective, One attractive option under consideration is to use a worker cooperative, grow 50 different kinds of herbs some of the woody biomass to fuel a community-scaled, and vegetables for local stores, restaurants and consumers cooperatively-run thermal biomass/cogeneration system in Burlington, Vt. to provide heat and power for value added forest products One of their neighbors, the Intervale Community Farm operations, and for sale locally. GilaWoodNet has experi- Cooperative, is organized as a consumer co-op that hires ence providing fuel for a woody biomass thermal system farmers to grow produce for 500 families in the Burl- at a hospital in New Mexico,and CCFE has experience ington area. Both co-ops farm on leased land owned by with the Austrian Cooperative Model where producers the non-profit Intervale Center. Both are members of an supply heat and electricity locally, creating income from equipment and facilities sharing co-op that helps increase low-value material. productivity while keeping capital costs in check. 4 The San Carlos Woods Workers Collaborative and local In New Hampshire, eight independent farms in as firewood retailers are interested in firewood-grade mate- many towns coordinate production, cropping plans and harvests into a multi-farm Community Supported NorthEast Investment Co-op Prepares for First Project CDS: The NorthEast Investment Co-op is an innovative com- munity development cooperative created to reinvigorate Upcoming the Central Avenue corridor of Northeast Minneapolis. Event Incorporated in Spring 2012, the cooperative has grown Building Our Future to 111 members who have each paid $1000 for their membership share; another 22 members have pledged to through Ownership purchase membership shares. In addition to member- CoMinnesota is a cross- ship shares, the co-op is offering preferred shares as an sectoral group of Minnesota additional means of securing member investment. cooperators that are commit- On December 13, ted to implementing a decade 2012, the co-op launched of cooperative development their first commercial deal in MN; it is organizationally Member work days at the Intervale Community Farm Cooperative, by signing a purchase hosted within Cooperative Burlington, Vt. photo: ICFC agreement to buy a vacant Development Services. The store building at 2504-06 group has sponsored several Agriculture co-op giving more than 300 consumers in the Central Avenue NE. The plan is to divide the property events since it began activi- Concord, NH area access to fresh produce through three with a local small business that needs additional room to ties in October 2011 with an seasons. Fishermen and consumers in the NH seacoast grow their business; the remaining half of the building evening of co-op presenta- are adapting the model to a multi-stakeholder Commu- will be renovated and made available for lease to another tions and nity Supported Fisheries co-op. as-yet-undetermined small business. Over $25,000 in discussion These co-ops are part of a series of case studies Coop- preferred shares have been pledged to date in support of featuring erative Development Institute (CDI) is putting together. this first project. David The case studies, along with workshops will be used to CDS has provided only very modest assistance in the Thompson launch a local food systems initiative built on consumer, start-up of this co-op, but we are seeing this model as an (a member farmer, fishermen and multi-stakeholder cooperatives that innovative and likely replicable approach for citizens to of the include shared land, facilities, equipment, labor and other use cooperatives to solve issues of community economic Coopera- resources, engage personal values and provide livable development. tive Hall of wages and affordable food. To support these efforts CDI is Fame) and Marjorie Kelly organizing technical assistance and referral partnerships MN Secre- Photo: MarjorieKelly.com with farm preservation organizations such as the Equity COMMON ENTERPRISE tary of State Mark Ritchie. Trust in MA, Land for Good in NH and the Maine Farm- DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Our next major event will land Trust, who are leading efforts to transform how farm- For information, contact Bill Patrie at be a presentation and audi- land is transferred, owed and used. Financing partners 701-663-3886 or [email protected] ence conversation with Mar- include Co-Bank, Farm Credit, the Cooperative Fund of jorie Kelly, author of “Owning New England and USDA agencies. These collaborations Common Enterprise Development Corporation (CEDC) is a Our Future: The Emerging ensure that potential co-operators are fully supported. North Dakota non-profit development corporation focused on Ownership Revolution.” CDI’s food system specialist Lynda Brushett notes that the development of community-owned enterprises and coop- Kelly’s most recent book uses the initiative came about in response to an upsurge in the eratives in all sectors. the experiences of the Great number of requests for assistance organizing coopera- Farmer and Fertilizer: Recession to highlight how tively run farms. “These folks want to change the region’s our dominant business owner- food system to one rooted in values, built on community One Wild Ride into the Future ship structures have created involvement and structured to last…and that means German scientists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch com- “extractive” economies, and cooperatives.” More than 70 farmers have signed up to bined their understandings to create the Haber Bosch contributed to the worldwide attend the first “Stronger Together: Cooperative Farms” process for making synthetic fertilizer. Nature Magazine economic debacle. She iden- workshop in February, at Harvest New England, an an- said that these two individuals where the most influential tifies attributes of business nual marketing conference and trade show for farmers persons of the 20th century and rivaled only by the germ ownership structures that cre- hosted by the region’s departments of agriculture. theory of disease by Pasteur and Koch for the greatest ate a “generative” economy, impact on humankind in the last 200 years. Commercial and goes on to commend COOPERATIVE fertilizer production started using this process in 1913. cooperative enterprises as a By the 1950s farmers across the United States and key alternative in transforming DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Canada owned fertilizer manufacturing facilities using this our economy. The event will For information, contact Kevin Edberg at process. The Haber Bosch process makes anhydrous am- be held in the Twin Cities on 651-287-0184 or [email protected] monia (NH3) which is the building block for other solid the evening of April 18, 2013. and liquid nitrogen fertilizers. The process combines Cooperative Development Services (CDS) supports, builds, Visit www.cdsus.coop for nitrogen which is taken from ambient air and combined and strengthens organizations that contribute to cooperative event details. with hydrogen, most commonly taken from methane or and sustainable development through consultation and par- natural gas. When natural gas prices spiked in the United ticipation in the development, restructuring, and expansion of States and Canada, fertilizer production using natural gas cooperative organizations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. shut down and fertilizer manufacturing facilities were 5 Center News

INTERESTED in becoming a member of the largest growing co-op developer organization in the country?

JOIN CooperationWorks! Contact Susann Davis at 701-226-8409 or [email protected] Dakota Gasification Plant in Bismarck, ND, a producer of natural gas. photo: Dakota Gasification Company wesbite to learn more about membership. developed in those parts of the world where there was stranded natural gas. Over time, farmer owned manufac- Democracy Collaborative Or visit the CW website at For information, contact Steve Dubb at www.cooperationworks.coop turing plants were closed or sold and now there aren’t any left in the United States or Canada. 301-237-2135 or [email protected] With the discovery of the Bakken oil formation in The Democracy Collaborative was established to advance a North Dakota, natural gas has once again become plenti- new understanding of democracy for the 21st century and to ful. Prices have fallen to the point that when an oil well promote new strategies and innovations in community devel- begins producing, oil companies flare (burn) the escaping opment that enhance democratic life. natural gas rather than attempt to capture it. As a conse- quence, a satellite image of the Bakken at night has a light A New Worker Cooperative Growing in density of a major urban area. Cleveland, Ohio Common Enterprise Development Corporation has On February 25, Green City Growers Cooperative, been working with the North Dakota Corn Utilization the latest business in Cleveland’s Evergreen Cooperatives Council, the North Dakota Soybean Council, and produc- Initiative, will celebrate its grand opening, as its first crop er groups from South Dakota, Minnesota and the Province of fresh, locally grown greens is harvested. The facility, of Manitoba to find ways that farmers could once again with more than three acres under glass and 15,000 sq. ft. gain an ownership position in a fertilizer manufacturing of packing space, will produce millions of heads of lettuce facility. The initial feasibility study conducted for the and hundreds of thousands of pounds of fresh herbs a group by North Dakota State University has suggested year, making it one of the largest urban greenhouses in that a facility located in the upper Great Plains accessing the United States. Bakken natural gas would be cost competitive with other manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada By leveraging the procurement power of anchor and would likely have a transportation cost advantage institutions, each of the three cooperatives in the supplying the local farmers. network is not only creating much needed living wage Farmers are currently organizing an equity campaign to jobs with health benefits in traditionally economically convert the feasibility study into a business plan and an marginalized areas of the city, but making those jobs offering circular that would raise the money to build and cooperatively owned in order to maximize operate a plant or plants. The farmers behind this effort neighborhood-level equity and foster community stability. are not alone. Press announcements of major corporate expansions of existing fertilizer manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada have been frequent oc- An initial workforce of 25 people, on track to full currences. The largest cooperative in the United States, membership in the worker cooperative, planted the first CHS, has also announced an engineering study for a site crop in December. As operations ramp up, the coopera- in North Dakota. tive is expected to grow to between 40 and 50 worker- The feasibility study suggests that the smallest manu- owners. The greenhouse’s floating bed system is designed facturing plant that is competitive on a cost per ton basis for intensive, daily production, essential to meet the must produce about 750,000 tons per year and would high-volume needs of both large commercial customers cost up to $1.5 billion. The largest fertilizer companies and major area non-profits, many of whom are already in the world are SOEs (State Operated Enterprises) so the excited to shift purchasing to the new cooperative as part farmers are facing not only multinational corporations of a broader initiative by Cleveland’s “anchor institutions” but the Nations themselves. Haber and Bosch started to strengthen the local economy by “buying local” on a something big 100 years ago—it makes for a wild ride for very large scale. farmers. Rising transit costs, and a focus on carbon emissions, is making the long distance transport of produce a less and less attractive option from both an economic and an 6 ecological perspective. Green City Growers Cooperative is meeting this challenge, and opportunity, head on: at full capacity, CEO Mary Donnell estimates the greenhouse, things have happened in that time, in- operating year-round, will be able to produce three per- cluding the growth of other food co-op cent of Northeast Ohio’s lettuce — more than doubling support systems and the opportunity what is currently grown locally. to observe over 60 new food co-ops as The Green City Growers Cooperative joins the they progressed through store open- Evergreen Cooperative Laundry and Evergreen Energy ings. Solutions as the third business in the growing Evergreen The FCI board of directors recognized the imperative Cooperatives network. to focus their resources and ensure FCI is providing the Modeled in part after the Mondragon Cooperatives in best, most coordinated support to startup food co-ops. Spain, the Evergreen initiative was launched in 2008 by Toward that goal, FCI is working with representatives the Cleveland Foundation, the city of Cleveland, and ma- from NCB/NCB Capital Impact, CDF/Howard Bowers jor area non-profit medical and educational institutions Fund, NCGA, and the CDS Consulting Co-op to assemble together with the Democracy Collaborative and the Ohio the key stakeholders in new food co-op development to Employee Ownership Center, with the goal of build- look at the FCI’s past, present and future. The goals are ing community wealth in the Greater University Circle to better align the available industry resources to support neighborhoods. and promote the growth of food co-op development in By leveraging the procurement power of anchor institu- the United States, to celebrate our successes over the tions, each of the three cooperatives in the network is not last 10 years, and to create a strategy for future develop- only creating much needed living wage jobs with health ment. FCI looks forward to a stimulating and productive benefits in traditionally economically marginalized areas discussion and will share the outcomes with all interested of the city, but making those jobs cooperatively owned developers. in order to maximize neighborhood-level equity and foster community stability. An overarching non-profit INDIANA COOPERATIVE structure knits the individual businesses into a compre- hensive place-based strategy for economic development, DEVELOPMENT CENTER with each cooperative returning 10 percent of its profits For information, contact Debbie Trocha at to a central loan fund to help launch new businesses in 317-275-2247 or [email protected] the network. The success of the Evergreen model for The Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC) is com- building worker-owned green jobs in the communities mitted to providing a range of innovative, results-oriented, and that need them most has inspired cities like Atlanta, cost-effective services to cooperatives and related organizations Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. to begin the process of statewide. adapting the model and launching their own networks of community wealth building cooperatives. WOLF Cooperative, The Next Phase The Wolcottville Organic Livestock Feed (WOLF) FOOD CO-OP INITIATIVE Cooperative was organized from the vision of over 80 For information, contact Stuart Reid at producers in March of 2011. These active community 507-664-2034 or [email protected] participants were concerned regarding the sustainability of the Wolcottville Organic Feed Mill as their futures were Food Co-op Initiative is a support system that seeks to enable dependent on the ability to obtain high quality organic a faster and more efficient start-up process for retail food co-ops. feed for their farming operations. The continued opera- Online Resources Meet Needs of Growing tion of the mill it thus viewed as a key to the expansion of the area’s organic dairy/livestock industry and the profit- Food Co-op Sector ability of producers. FCI has a lot planned this year, collaborating with The vision of WOLF cooperative is to secure, for future other centers on regional training events, publishing generations, the availability and price stability of high new toolboxes, and kicking off a new, monthly webinar quality organic livestock feed and supplies for the com- program. FCI is now in contact with over 100 communi- munity. ties with active retail food co-op startup efforts and are After just under two years of work, WOLF closed on supporting almost 1/3 of them with Seed grants and more the purchase of the Wolcottville Organic Feed Mill in intensive consultation. The small staff at FCI is leveraged Wolcottville, Indiana on February 13, 2013. Funding by expanding the on-line library and delivery systems and came from the equity drive that drew 64 members of both encourages other centers to use those resources freely. Class A and Preferred Stock, an Organic Valley - CROPP One of the most exciting plans in 2013 is the sponsor- Cooperative loan, a member loan and traditional bank ship of a Food Co-op Development Summit. About ten financing from Farmer’s State Bank under the Community years ago, the recent wave of new food co-op develop- Development Act. WOLF employs a General Manager to ment began and the support community took notice. direct day to day operations, two part time administrative Food Co-op 500 was formed to share the knowledge and assistants and four full time employees. resources that already existed so that co-op organizers WOLF Cooperative has utilized all seven cooperative would not have to reinvent the wheel. Three years ago principles in achieving their goal: Voluntary and Open FCI was incorporated as a non-profit and joined CW! as Membership; Democratic Member Control; Member a USDA-supported development center. A lot of other 7 CENTER NEWS cont. on pg. 10 Where We Are CooperationWorks! Sarah Pike p: 763.432.2032 17 24 e: [email protected] w: www.cooperationworks.coop 6 5 21 17 16 5 6 17 5 6 10 17 22 7 6 6 19 5 27 6 6 18 7 7 20 12 5. Common Enterprise Development Corporation 2 14 3 Mandan, ND 15 Serves Minnesota, North Dakota 8 9 4 28 21. Agriculture Utilization and South Dakota Research Institute Bill Patrie 18 25 Crookston, MN 701-663-3886 Michael Sparby www.cedc.coop 218-281-7600 1 11 www.auri.org 6. Cooperative Development Institute Shelburne Falls, MA 26 22. Alaska Cooperative Development Serves Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Program/University of Alaska Center Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts 25 for Economic Development and New York Anchorage, AK Noemi Giszpenc 18 1 Serves Alaska 413-665-1271 Andrew Crow www.cdi.coop 1 907-786-5447 ced.uaa.alaska.edu 7. Cooperative Development Services St. Paul, MN & Madison, WI 1. Arkansas Rural Enterprise Center Serves Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa 13 Little Rock, AR Kevin Edberg Serves Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and 651-287-0184 1 Peter Frank Louisiana www.cdsus.coop Philadelphia, PA • 215-680-9195 Sydney Ross [email protected] 8. Democracy at Work Institute/U.S. 11. Kentucky Center for 27. Latino Economic 501-280-3078 29 Richard Hilliard www.winrock.org Federation of Worker Cooperatives Agriculture and Rural Development Development Center San Francisco, CA Elizabethtown, KY Minneapolis, MN Center Line, MI 48015 • 586-703-9682 [email protected] 2. California Center for Cooperative Serves the entire United States Serves Kentucky Serves Minnesota Development Melissa Hoover Larry Snell Yolanda Cotterall Jim Johnson Davis, CA 415-379-9201 270-763-8258 612-729-1820 16. North Dakota Rural Electric 19. South Dakota Takoma Park, MD • 240-621-0921 Serves California www.usworker.coop/education www.kcard.info www.ledc-mn.org & Telecommunications Value-Added [email protected] Agriculture Kim Coontz Development Center Audrey Malan 3. Democracy Collaborative 12. Keystone Development Center 29. Louisiana Alliance Development Center 530-297-1032 Mandan, ND Cottage Grove, OR • 307-655-9162 Takoma Park, MD York, PA for Cooperative Enterprise Pierre, SD www.cccd.coop Serves North Dakota [email protected] Steve Dubb Serves Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware Baton Rouge, LA Lori Capouch Serves South Dakota 14. Center for Cooperative Forest 301-237-2135 and Maryland Serves Louisiana 701-663-6501 Cheri Rath Deborah Groban Olson Enterprises www.democracycollaborative.org Kate Smith Erin Rice www.ndarec.com/RE&TCenter.htm 605-224-9402 Grosse Point Park, MI • 313-331-7821 Athens, OH 814-687-4937 413-522-3319 www.sdvalueadded.coop [email protected] 23. Food Co-op Initiative www.kdc.coop [email protected] Serves Central Appalachia, but also works 28. National Cooperative 17. Northwest Cooperative Tom Pierson with members across the US Serves the entire United States Business Association Development Center Individuals Stuart Reid 10. The Kohala Center 13. Mississippi Center for Chicago, IL • 734-717-2559 Harry Groot Washington, DC Olympia, WA Courtney Berner [email protected] 740-593-8733 507-664-2034 Kamuela, HI 96743 Cooperative Development Serves the entire United States Serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska Madison, WI • 608-890-0966 www.nnfp.org www.foodcoopinitiative.coop Serves Hawaii Jackson, MS Lisa Stolarski and Hawaii [email protected] Caroline Savery Melanie Bondera Serves Mississippi 202-383-5448 Diane Gasaway Pittsburgh, PA • 860-965-2758 26. Fund for Democratic Communities 808-887-6411 Myra Bryant www.ncba.coop 360-943-4241 Emily Lippold Cheney [email protected] 4. CoBank Greensboro, NC www.kohalacenter.org 601-354-2750 www.nwcdc.coop Midwest Region • 515-442-0749 Washington, DC Ed Whitfield www.mississippiassociation.coop [email protected] Marilyn Scholl 15. Nebraska Cooperative Putney, VT • 802-387-6013 Serves the entire United States 336-497-18541 24. Lake County Community 18. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Development Center Susan Davis [email protected] Sarah Tyree www.f4dc.org Development Corp/Food and 20. NASCO Cooperative and Economic Lincoln, NE Mandan, ND • 701-226-8409 202-650-5864 Agriculture Coopertive Development Services Development Center Webster Walker Serves Nebraska [email protected] www.cobank.com 9. Indiana Cooperative Development Development Center Chicago, IL Denver, CO Seattle, WA • 206-324-2976 Jim Crandall Center Ronan, MT Serves the entire United States Serves Colorado, New Mexico John Dunn [email protected] 308-995-3889 Indianapolis, IN Serves Montana Tom Pierson and Wyoming Falls Church, VA • 703-624-1148 ncdc.unl.edu Serves Indiana Jan Tusick 734-717-2559 Bill Stevenson [email protected] 8 Debbie Trocha 406-676-5901 www.nasco.coop 303-283-3549 9 317-692-7707 www.lakecountycdc.org www.rmfu.org www.icdc.coop Center News

CENTER NEWS, cont. from page 7

Economic Participation; Autonomy and Independence; Education, Training and Information; Cooperation among Cooperatives; and Concern for Community. Cooperation among Cooperatives is reflected in the WOLF and Organic Valley (OV) partnership. Organic Valley has provided many benefits for WOLF in addition to providing funding for the initial purchase. OV pro- vided guidance and support during the two year organiz- ing phase. In addition, Organic Valley has an expressed Memorandum of Understanding working with WOLF in helping to secure organic feed sourcing for OV members. WOLF Cooperative will provide economic activity and provide sustainability within the organic community for years to come throughout their service area. By provding Denise Nelson of Chrisman Mill Vineyards and Winery takes notes this service, WOLF has helped to secure the future of the during the KCARD-sponsored grant seminar. small family farm. State University and the University of Kentucky to expose KENTUCKY CENTER FOR participants to the different programs and services offered by these partners,” said Botts. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL The Kentucky Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program, DEVELOPMENT funded by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board For information, contact Larry Snell at and led by the KCARD, aims to help agricultural produc- 270-763-8258 or [email protected] ers and rural businesses in Kentucky learn about, apply for, and receive funding available through numerous The Kentucky Center for Agriculture & Rural Development program. (KCARD) fosters business success and growth by developing As a statewide organization, KCARD works with rural and delivering technical assistance and by providing edu- businesses and agribusinesses across the Commonwealth cational opportunities for agricultural and rural businesses to provide specialized assistance increasing the chances seeking to enhance their economic opportunities in and around for success. Along with the Agribusiness Grant Facilita- the Commonwealth of Kentucky. tion Program, KCARD provides a range of services to their clients including strategic planning, business manage- Assisting with Grant Success for Kentucky’s ment, operations analysis, recordkeeping development, Agribusiness cost analysis, and on-site business consultations. The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Devel- To learn more about the Kentucky Agribusiness Grant opment’s Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program is host- Facilitation Program visit www.growkentuckyag.com. To ing a series of workshops across Kentucky this winter and learn more about KCARD visit www.kcard.info and like spring to assist producers and rural businesses develop us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KentuckyCenter- grant preparation strategies and identify grant opportuni- forAg. ties. “Many farmers and rural businesses have questions about grants, ranging from what funding opportunities KEYSTONE DEVELOPMENT are out there to what type of projects different grants CENTER fund,” explained Aleta Botts, Agribusiness Grant Facilita- For information, contact Cathy Smith at tion Program Coordinator. “These workshops provide 814-687-4937 or [email protected] them a chance to have their questions answered, learn more about the process, and think strategically about The Keystone Development Center is a non-profit corporation whether particular grant programs might make sense for dedicated to providing technical and research assistance to their farming operation or business now or in the future.” groups who wish to organize as cooperatives in the multi-state Each workshop brings together a variety of speakers area of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware. based on their with experience with grant programs to present to participants the basic strategies for navigating Fostering Growth and Partnerships in the Local most grant applications, at the national, state, and local Food System levels. The workshop is designed to provide individuals The Keystone Development Center primarily develops with an opportunity to learn how to search for grants, cooperatives that are part of local food systems. Food how to prepare strong applications, as well as how to con- system development is one of KDC’s major goals as they nect with other resources available for their operations. allocate scarce resources for cooperative development. “Along with successful grant writers and grant recipi- On one end of the food system, KDC works with farmers ents, the workshop also brings together individuals from to form supply and marketing cooperatives. One of the 10 USDA, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the biggest success stories is the Lancaster Farm Fresh Coop- Kentucky Governor’s of Agricultural Policy, Kentucky erative (LFFC). LFFC markets mostly organic fruits and orders, this could lead to efficiencies both in ordering and transportation” explains Kate Smith, KDC executive direc- tor. At least one of the start-ups is considering adding a warehouse to their retail location to act as a local food aggregation point and “meta” CSA pick-up point. Toward this end, KDC has organized a tour of existing food cooperatives in the Philadelphia area for these three start- ups. Two leaders from each group have been invited to the tour. This will help them understand the “end game” and challenges of their cooperative start-ups and will also network the three cooperatives together with the hope of Clam growers meet product buyers and managers at the Swarthmore further organized purchasing down the road. Food Cooperative to learn more about how best to market their prod- ucts. photo: courtesy of Swarthmore Food Cooperative vegetables grown by Amish farmers in Lancaster County, NEBRASKA COOPERATIVE Pennsylvania. The business has grown into a multi- DEVELOPMENT CENTER million dollar business, having out grown its warehouse For information, contact Jim Crandall at facilities three times already. They now employ over 30 308-995-3889 or [email protected] full and part-time employees. On the other end of the food system, KDC works The Nebraska Cooperative Development Center builds a with both start-up and operating food cooperatives that strong, engaged, and sustainable network of people with access specialize in sourcing locally produced foods. KDC was to local, state, and national resources, dedicated to allowing instrumental in incubating the MidAtlantic Food Coop- people to prosper in rural Nebraska by helping them to work erative Alliance (MAFCA). This is an organization of food together to increase their incomes via cooperative develop- cooperatives from the several MidAtlantic states. KDC ment, and to help facilitate “value-added” opportunities. continues to provide a local facilitator to the group. The organization currently has 22 food cooperative members Elwood Hometown Cooperative Market Opens from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, for Business and Virginia. Their combined sales total nearly $106 The loss of a grocery store in a rural community can million. It is estimated that they are selling a combined be a devastating blow, especially when it is the only, or at $17 million in local food products. Ten of the members least major, source of local groceries. Not only do people are start-up cooperatives. MAFCA provides a venue for then have to travel farther and expend more time and sharing lessons learned. money to get their groceries, but it can also be a serious MAFCA also provides a point of connection for the blow to community pride and make it harder to attract development of marketing channels. Recently as part new residents and businesses. of KDC’s work with clam growers in New Jersey they surveyed the MAFCA members about their current and potential shell-fish sales. Eleven food cooperatives responded to the survey with valuable information for the clam growers to develop their cooperative marketing strategies. After the survey results were analyzed, KDC organized a combined meeting with the clam growers and food cooperatives. Using a combination webinar and face-to-face meeting format, they presented the results of the survey to the combined group and facilitated discus- sion about the key points. As a result, the clam growers were energized and the food cooperatives excited about the market potential. KDC is currently providing feasibility studies for Members of the Elwood Cooperative walk the aisles at the soft opening. three food cooperatives, all looking at increasing access to local foods. One of the challenges a food coopera- tive faces when selling local foods is the “unorganized” distribution system for local products. The farms tend to be small scale and, unless the farm is part of a market- ing cooperative or other coordinated effort, the ordering and distribution systems can be cumbersome – espe- cially for a start-up food cooperative. For the three start-up food cooperative clients, KDC is attempting to bring them together early in their development process to synchronize their local-food sourcing strategy. “If all 11 three cooperatives worked together to coordinate their Center News

When the only grocery store in Elwood, Nebraska opened for business to the general public on Monday, Feb- closed in January of 2012, community leaders quickly ruary 4. The market plans to have a Grand Opening this responded, organizing a community meeting to consider spring to include a ribbon cutting and additional activities. opening a cooperatively owned grocery store. Jim Cran- dall of the UNL Nebraska Cooperative Development Cen- NORTH DAKOTA RURAL ELECTRIC ter (NCDC) was the primary speaker at this first meeting, to explain the concept of community ownership as a & TELECOMMUNICATIONS cooperative. The meeting attracted more than 100 people, DEVELOPMENT CENTER almost all of whom felt that a grocery store was vital to For information, contact Lori Capouch at the future of their community. Prior to and following the 701-663-6501 or [email protected] initial meeting, community leaders developed and distrib- uted a survey to gauge interest in opening a co-op grocery The North Dakota Rural Electric & Telecommunications store. The community response showed widespread sup- (RE&T) Development Center adds new wealth to the economy port for the concept. A committed, hard-working steering by creating, retaining, and expanding rural cooperatives and committee was formed to begin the process of studying other primary sector business enterprises. the feasibility of a grocery store, the cooperative business model, and creating pro-forma financials. Rockview School for Tots The 10 member steering committee formed subcom- When word got out that the Good Samaritan Society mittees that focused on facilities, business and finance donated their retirement home to the city of Parshall with issues, and incorporation options with NCDC providing plans to build a daycare facility, a collective sigh of relief guides and outlines for each subgroup. Expert advice was could be heard through the community. Area parents sought from a local attorney, insurance agents, former hoped that their daycare dilemma would soon be solved. store owners, neighboring stores and managers of grain Like most parents, Kayla Marinov and her husband, co-ops in nearby towns (one grain co-op also owned a Ves, will say that their son, Tristan, is their world. With grocery store). Ideas were also sought from cooperative his beaming brown eyes, inquisitive nature, and comical accountants, area economic developers and grocery sup- half-smirk, half-smile, he tugs at your heart strings only pliers. A financial plan was developed seconds after meeting him. And when for remodeling the store, and progress Kayla picks him up from the Rockview and information was shared at two School for Tots, some days he wants to more community-wide meetings. All stay at the daycare rather than going indications still showed continued sup- home. But instead of feeling snubbed, port for opening the new grocery store. Kayla is delighted because not so long The steering committee received a ago she and her husband, Ves, had few small grant from the NCDC to help with daycare options. organizational costs such as attorney A little more than a year ago, fees, brochure printings, and mailings. Kayla an accountant for a local certi- The committee met weekly or bi-weekly fied public accounting firm and Ves, a as a group, with subcommittees meeting deputy sheriff in Mountrail County, had at additional times to move the process Tristan’s name on several daycare wait- forward quickly. ing lists. The problem was they knew The cooperative was incorporated in the wait could take years. May 2012 as the Elwood Hometown With no alternatives, Kayla called Cooperative Market. The steering com- on both Ves’ parents and her parents to Kayla Marinov and her son Tristan, 3, help tend to Tristan. Kayla loved that mittee, now Board of Directors, con- are overjoyed with the childcare provided her son would get to bond with his ducted a membership drive to capitalize by the Rockview School for Tots in Par- the new business allowing them to shall, ND. grandparents by staying at their home, purchase and remodel the former store but there were snags — the five-hour location, hire a manager and purchase the inventory. Over drive from Parshall to Fargo and even 125 people bought ownership shares in the cooperative worse the time spent apart from Tristan. and new members are still being added to the ownership Each weekend Kayla or Ves would drive to Fargo so base. Coop members, Board members, and other volun- that Kayla’s parents could care for him during the week teers were involved in the remodeling of the store, install- while they both went back to Parshall to work. On week- ing coolers, freezers and shelving. Board members, coop ends they drove the one-way, five-hour commute so they members, and volunteers scanned inventory and stocked could see Tristan. He would stay with his grandparents all the shelves in preparation for opening. The Market for two weeks at a time. has been advertising their opening locally and through Fortunately for the Marinovs that all changed on Feb. social media with their Facebook page, www.facebook. 1, 2012, when Tristan and 17 other children walked com/ElwoodHometownCooperativeMarket. through the doors of the newly formed Rockview School The Elwood Hometown Cooperative Market celebrated for Tots — a non-profit daycare facility located in the for- 12 their official “soft” opening on February 3 with a preview mer Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Parshall. of the new store for coop members and donors. The store Connie Rood, the daycare director and Wendy Wohlk, daycare business manager, not only bring experience and business savvy to the table, they bring extra care and compassion as grandmothers. Rood is a retired teacher who taught school in the area for 38 years and Wohlk not only directs the business of the daycare, she doubles as the building manager for Rockview Plaza. In addition to Rood and Wohlk, the daycare staff also includes four full- time and employees and one part-time employee making the child-to-caregiver ratio of three to one. The group daycare facility current cares for 18 children. Rood says that even though they were able to accom- modate a number of families in the community that about 10 children are on the daycare’s waiting list. The Good Samaritan Society donated the 28,000 square-foot building to Parshall 2000, a non-profit devel- opment corporation. Parshall 2000 networked with the In keeping with their values, a special discussion is North Dakota RE&T Development Center for technical taking place around the new co-op’s governance structure. assistance throughout the development phase. At the start Cooperatives are based upon participatory, democratic of the development, the University of Mary conducted a governance. The worker-owners of the Blue Scorcher feasibility study for repurposing the building. One of the business have embraced a specific form of participa- greatest needs identified was daycare. All along the way, tion and governance, Dynamic Goverance, which uses a community input has been sought to identify ways the system of governance circles and consent-based decision building space could best serve the community. making. The plan also called for a community restaurant, a In 2012, the newly reorganized Scorcher Artisan Co- telepharmacy, and senior co-op housing. With the restau- operative purchased the bakery and café business. Five rant, telepharmacy and daycare center in place, plans are workers are now co-owners who have invested in their underway for the development of senior housing. cooperative business. Their jobs are aimed toward a broader form of wealth: Joyful work, delicious food, and NORTHWEST COOPERATIVE strong community. DEVELOPMENT CENTER To learn more about the Dynamic Goverance model, visit www.dynamicgovernance.com For information, contact Diane Gasaway at 360-943-4241 or [email protected] ROCKY MOUNTAIN FARMERS The Northwest Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC) is a nonprofit organization devoted to assisting new and exist- UNION COOPERATIVE AND ing cooperative businesses—from day care centers to credit ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER unions— by providing access to information and tools that will For information, contact Bill Stevenson at enable effective governance and management. 303-283-3549 or [email protected] Worker Ownership Brings More than Just Jobs The Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) Coopera- The Blue Scorcher Bakery and Café of Astoria, Wash. is tive and Economic Development Center provides technical always a place of good food and more. Since 2004 it has assistance and funding to rural groups to create marketing, also been about community, sharing, respect and joy. For processing, or service cooperatives such as local food or energy cofounders Joe Garrison and Iris Sullivan Daire, owner- programs. ship of the business reflects those values. In 2009, they and the workers began to talk about transitioning the New Co-op Curriculum in Seminary Course business into a worker-owned cooperative business. The staff of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union’s Coop- The role of the Northwest Cooperative Development erative Development Center (RMFU), was wondering Center (NWCDC) has been to support the transition recently: How about a seminary course on the philosophy discussions by providing organizational guidance and and development of cooperatives? other resources to establish a worker-owned cooperative Just think of the benefits for both. It would promote business. an alternative economic model that fits very well with Blue Scorcher owners understand that a worker co-op the focus on service that is usually part of a seminary’s is established by workers to provide themselves with curriculum. It would introduce folks who hope to have employment and full control of their work environ- careers in social justice to the prospects offered by the ment. Many of the workers are both the owners and the cooperative model. It’s a chance to get creative ideas for members of the cooperative. This is in contrast to other cooperative development from individuals who were not types of cooperatives that feature ownership by consum- formerly familiar with co-ops. And it would bring the ers (such as for a credit union which is a financial services cooperative message to hundreds, even thousands, of cooperative) or ownership by other businesses, such as a congregants who can in turn use the model throughout 13 produce marketing cooperative owned by farmers. their communities. Center News

Fortunately, one of their staff includes an ordained United Methodist minister! Reverend Stephanie Price not only helps lead a large congregation in southeast Denver but is also the convener of the peace with justice task force of the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UMC. With her participation, RMFU hopes to help provide a course this fall on the philosophy and development of co- operatives at the Iliff School of Theology, a UMC seminary on the campus of the University of Denver. In the fall of 2012, Stephanie approached Brad Klein, a Ph.D. candidate and Coordinator of Iliff’s Justice & Peace Program, with the idea for a course. Brad lost no time in developing a draft course description, which has been submitted to the acting academic dean at Iliff. The course Worker-owners at USFWC member Equal Exchange, an importer was initially viewed as a weekend “praxis” (one of those and roaster of coffee, tea and chocolate, and one of the largest worker fancy seminary terms), but has evolved into a proposed cooperatives in the country. week-long, four-hour-per-day course worth two credit hours. tives with over 100 workplace members, has not only The course may include readings from some popular been a critical part of this growth, it’s growing along with co-op literature, such as John Restakis’s Humanizing them. the Economy, Weaver of Dreams by David Thompson, In eight short years, the USFWC has built a broad and two different books called The Cooperative Solu- membership base, committed leadership and strong net- tion (one by Richard Williams, who teaches a course on works, along with a reputation for creating effective, inno- cooperatives at Regis University in Denver, is a retired vative programs that leverage the strengths of its member- UMC pastor, and is forming a cooperative in Boulder, and ship to support growth in the worker cooperative sector. the other, of course, by E.G. Nadeau). Other readings It provides technical assistance, access to financing, and on the spirituality of the cooperative way would also be models and information-sharing to support strong worker included. cooperatives. Brad will be the course leader, but there is thought of To meet growing demand for its services, the USFWC including nationally renowned experts on cooperatives as recently expanded its capacity thanks to a Rural Coopera- well as Stephanie and others on our staff, with emphasis tive Development Grant from the USDA. The grant will for at least part of one day on cooperative organization help USFWC establish a cooperative development center and accounting for cooperatives. The first two days of co- to support the growth of worker cooperatives in rural op development curriculum proposed for this April’s CW! areas. The Rural Cooperative Development Grant is part training will be a big help in planning our curriculum. of a very intentional capacity-building plan for the US Since they may have as much as a week for class, Federation, which is still a young organization. The fund- RMFU also hopes to visit a local farm that is part of a ing takes the organization to the next level and builds on producers’ cooperative and an urban community gardens its very real strength, its members, to expand support and complex that is promoting the cooperative model for its advocacy on behalf of all worker cooperatives. marketing and sales. Activities funded by the grant include the expansion They are keeping their fingers crossed (and saying a of the USFWC’s innovative DAWN peer advisor training little prayer) that the last hurdles to making this fall’s class program to include rural cooperators, provision of techni- a reality will soon be behind them. cal assistance to rural worker cooperatives and startups, and development of resources and trainings. USFWC is working with several key organizational partners — many U.S. Federation of Worker of them members of Cooperation Works! — to connect to Cooperatives the great cooperative development work already happen- For information, contact Melissa Hoover at ing, and expand the reach of worker cooperatives in this 415-379-9201 or [email protected] work. The USFWC is a national grassroots membership organization The RCDG award comes at a time when interest in the of and for worker cooperatives, democratic workplaces, and worker cooperative model is on the rise throughout the organization that support the growth development of worker country. USFWC has several projects in the pipeline: cooperatives. • Support for an employee buyouts of two successful businesses growing from sole proprietorship to worker Worker Cooperatives cooperative Help Build Local Economies Worker cooperatives are popping up everywhere - from • Business planning support for a small farm business to Cleveland’s Evergreen project to direct care workers to the incorporate as a worker cooperative recent expansion of cooperatives in the tech services sec- • Technical assistance for a small town worker-owned 14 tor. The US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the only Main Street café national membership organization for worker coopera- • Support for a national organization of community radio stations to set up new stations in rural areas using the As worker cooperatives continue to grow, both as cooperative model individual enterprises and as anchored networks of busi- nesses, USFWC staff sees the organization expanding in • Partnership with Vermont Employee Ownership Center both rural and urban areas. Communities increasingly to support a retiring business owner selling the busi- see worker cooperatives as a viable and powerful tool for ness to employees community-led economic development. • Partnership with NW Cooperative Development Center Much of the technical assistance provided by the and Cooperative Development Foundation to create USFWC comes from successful worker cooperatives and trainings for direct care workers to organize worker cooperators themselves. “Worker cooperative enterprises cooperatives. do not exist in isolation,” says Rebecca Kemble, USFWC • Expansion of the DAWN Training program for worker President. “The USFWC provides the organizational base cooperators to become peer advisors for the regional, national and international networks that are so essential for the health of each worker coop and the • Development of support materials, including an update community as a whole.” of the Worker Cooperative Toolbox For more information about the USFWC, see www. • Research on the scale and scope of the worker coopera- usworker.coop. tive community in the United States

CDS Consulting Co-op is dedicated to building and strengthening cooperative businesses through assessment, planning, resource access, training, coaching, support, and continuous improvement. Below are upcoming trainings sponsored by CDS Consulting.

CDS Consulting Co-op is offering a number of in- The Cooperative Board Leadership 101 (CBL person sessions this spring. These one-day events give food 101) and Leadership Trainings are in-person, one- co-op board members and managers around the country op- day, multi-co-op sessions designed for co-op board members portunities to participate in meaningful exchanges with each and top-level managers. CBL 101 is especially helpful for other. At the CBL 101, Leadership Training, and Strategic Co- those new to co-op boards, although all directors, top-level op Seminars, participants gain practical tools for governing managers, and board candidates are welcome to partici- their food co-ops and engaging with their local communities. pate. The Leadership Training In our time-pressed world, ex- provides training to help periences like this are not only board members incorporate unique, but have user-friendly the strategic process into the value for sharing the co-op board's work plan, build more model with increasing numbers effective teams, and develop of people. Please join us! themselves as board leaders in order to provide strong leader- The Strategic Co-op ship for co-ops. Board chairs, Seminars build common general managers, and others understanding and alignment interested in board leadership at individual co-ops and among are encouraged to attend. CBL co-ops. Seminars are highly 101 and the Leadership Train- interactive and will concen- ing are offered on the same trate on understanding issues day at the same location. related to growing our co-ops and the impact our co-ops This Spring they are being offered here: make in their communities. Thanks to sponsorship by the National Cooperative Grocers Association, the cost to attend March 23, 2013 Portland, OR the Strategic Co-op Seminar is $45 per person with a $300 cap per co-op. To register for any of these events: cdsconsulting.centraldesktop.com/cbld/doc/20785406 Strategic Co-op Seminars being offered this Spring are: March 2, 2013 Asheville, NC The CBL 101 or the Leadership Training are features of March 9, 2013 Eau Claire, WI the CBLD program and there is no charge for attendance March 16, 2013 Brattleboro Area (Putney, VT) for Co-ops enrolled in the program. Not in CBLD? Con- TBD (Fall 2013) Albuquerque, NM tact us at [email protected] for more TBD (Fall 2013) Ann Arbor, MI information about the sessions and CBLD.

15 munity owned store. The executive director of the Sauk Courtney Berner County Development Corporation, who had attended the For more information, contact Courtney Berner at Madison Cooperative Jobs Conference in June 2012, be- 2013 608-890-0966 or [email protected]. gan to explore a cooperative solution to save Plain’s only Courtney is an Outreach Specialist at the University of Wis- grocery store. He contacted UWCC’s Courtney Berner, Calendar consin Center for Cooperatives where she conducts research who over the course of the summer met with community leaders to introduce the cooperative model, explore how a Upcoming Events on the cooperative business model and provides various types of technical assistance to existing cooperatives and to groups conversion of the grocery business to a cooperative might May 8 interested in pursuing cooperative business activities. work, and facilitate the formation of a steering committee 2013 Co-op Hall of Fame and task forces for the project. A community meeting in Induction Ceremony December of 2012 generated strong community support Washington, DC University of Wisconsin Center for Four outstanding cooperative Cooperatives Works with Rural Community for the idea of a cooperative grocery store and within a leaders will receive the coop- to Avert Grocery Store Loss few weeks nearly 200 people had pledged to become erative community’s highest What do you do when the only grocery store in your members. Many also expressed a willingness to make a honor on Wednesday, May 8th, town decides to close? A cooperative buy-out and conver- loan to a new cooperative venture and offered to volun- 2013, when they are inducted sion may offer a solution. teer on the project. into the Cooperative Hall of Phil’s Supermarket, a family-owned and operated gro- Courtney continues to work with the four task forces Fame. The 2013 inductees that have been set up to tackle the financial, marketing, will be credit union leader Joy cery store, has been a fixture in Plain, Wisc., population operational, and structural issues involved in a potential Cousminer, worker coopera- 773, for over 90 years. In the last few years, however, the tive leader Steven Dawson, family owners had decided it was time to sell the busi- buyout and conversion. Two other grocery co-ops in the cooperative financer Rebecca ness. After a few unsuccessful bids region have expressed willingness Dunn, and cooperative educator to sell the store to private buyers, to provide technical support for a Leland Ruth. shutting down the business ap- conversion to a cooperative grocery For more information: peared to be the only option. store structure. heroes.coop Fortunately, there was commu- The community is hopeful that nity interest in maintaining this the resources, skills, and common June 6-8 vision evident so far bode well for Consumer Cooperative downtown anchor business and a Management Association local economic development pro- developing a cooperative solution to (CCMA) Conference fessional who saw the potential for a problem all too common in rural Austin, TX converting the business to a com- communities across Wisconsin. For more information: ccma.coop JOB GROWTH, cont. from page 1 businesses were rural businesses. tiative with a small staff of three, is in Additionally, Centers offer non-job contact with over 100 communities July 26-28 2011. Additionally, Centers assisted benefits such as housing develop- with active retail food co-op startups Eastern Conference for their clients in securing a total of ment and providing training and and has produced a number of online Workplace Democracy $79,738,949 in Federal funds be- Drexel University education — three Centers creating resources to reach more people and tween 2009 and 2011 (this amount Philadelphia, PA 780 united of housing. have a greater impact. (see pg. 7). For more information: includes a $69,330,000 federal loan How food systems in the North- east.usworker.coop secured by one Center to start a Behind the Statistics, east are being redesigned by farmers health care cooperative). The Value- Measurable Impact for Real and consumers, giving consumers August 4-7 Added Producer Grant Program People access to fresh fruits and vegetables, The ACE Institute (VAPG) was the most common. CooperationWorks members strive and small farmers stable and steady San Juan, Puerto Rico Centers typically work with clients to make this country more economi- employment. (see pg. 4) Co-op developers, research- for multiple years, but rely on annu- ers and educators from across cally equitable by creating jobs and How worker co-ops in California ally awarded Federal grants (RCDG) North America come together economic self-sustainability. They (see pg. 2) and Ohio (see pg. 6) have to discuss innovations in their as a significant portion of their do this efficiently and effectively, given an under-employed population field and sector. annual revenue. The Centers who through leveraging RCDG funds and economic stability that is leading to a For more information: have received RCDG awards for five other grants with member-owner stronger community. Sarah at [email protected] or more consecutive years developed investment, and other public and pri- Read more within about the posi- more businesses and impacted a vate resources. The stories within this tive impact co-ops are making on the September 2-5 greater number of jobs in 2011, than Western Worker newsletter personify the statistics, economy, within communities and Centers that did not receive five con- Cooperative Conference revealing how lives and communities for families and individuals. Breitenbush Hot Springs, OR secutive RCDG awards. This funding have changed in meaningful ways. For more information: stability allows some Centers to work How, with the development of a CooperationWorks westernworkers.blogspot.com more effectively with their clients. new daycare center and the creation Professional Co-op Additionally, Centers with five or of six jobs in Parshall, ND, the Ma- Developers Training October more years of consecutive RCDG rinovs’ son no longer has to live five National Cooperative funding are better able to leverage hours away with his grandparents Session II: Key Ingredients Business Association for New Cooperative a greater diversity of non-RCDG because adequate daycare was not Annual Meeting revenue sources. Business Success Boston, MA available in the Parshall. (see pg. 12) The impact of CW Centers reaches How a forestry restoration project April 1-5, 2013 beyond new co-op development and has led to identifying 30 different Madison, Wisconsin job creation. In 2011, the median products from forest byproducts, Contact Audrey Malan CW Center used Federal or matching resulting in new businesses and job 16 at [email protected] funds to provide effective assistance growth in the Southwest. (see pg. 3) for more information to 85 businesses; 91percent of these How CW member, Food Coop Ini-