Cooperative Development Services Inc

EXPANDING LOCAL FOODS PROCUREMENT AND CO

RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC ASSETS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ENERGY, BUT THEY ALSO FACE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN MAINTAINING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THESE CHALLENGES THROUGH COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, BYHELPING RURAL COMMUNITIES CREATE AND STRENGTHEN BUSINESSES THAT ARE OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY THE PEOPLE WHO USE THEM. COOPERATIVES OFFER PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES FOR RURAL AREAS BECAUSE THEY KEEP OWNERSHIP LOCAL, PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY BENEFIT, AND CAN MAKE BUSINESSES VIABLE IN SMALLER MARKETS WHERE TRADITIONAL BUSINESSES MIGHT STRUGGLE.THE PROJECT WILL WORK ACROSS MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, AND IOWA TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES DEVELOP GROCERY CO-OPS THAT ENSURE CONTINUED FOOD ACCESS, AGRICULTURAL CO-OPS THAT HELP FARMERS GET BETTER PRICES AND ACCESS NEW MARKETS, CHILDCARE CO-OPS THAT ADDRESS CRITICAL WORKFORCE NEEDS, AND WORKER CO-OP CONVERSIONS THAT PROVIDE A STRATEGY TO PRESERVE LOCAL BUSINESSES WHEN OWNERS RETIRE. THE WORK INVOLVES PROVIDING HANDS-ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDING BUSINESS PLANNING, FEASIBILITY STUDIES, GOVERNANCE TRAINING, AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO HELP THESE COOPERATIVES SUCCEED.THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN CENTER FOR COOPERATIVES, THE PROJECT COMBINES DECADES OF EXPERIENCE WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CREATE NEW MODELS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED NATIONALLY. THE PARTNERSHIP WILL DEVELOP AND TEST NEW APPROACHES, PARTICULARLY FOR EMPLOYER-LED CHILDCARE CO-OPS, WHILE DOCUMENTING WHAT WORKS SO OTHER COMMUNITIES CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE INNOVATIONS. THE ULTIMATE IMPACT WILL BE STRONGER RURAL ECONOMIES WITH LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, CREATE AND PRESERVE JOBS, AND HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PROSPER. BY KEEPING BUSINESSES LOCALLY OWNED AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED, COOPERATIVES HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES SUSTAIN THEIRECONOMIES. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE NATIONAL NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT, ENSURING THAT RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ACCESS TO THE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO PURSUE COOPERATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.THIS WORK SUPPORTS BROADER NATIONAL PRIORITIES INCLUDING FOOD SECURITY, RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ENSURING THAT ALL AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE. SUCCESSFUL RURAL CO-OPS CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE DYNAMICAND RESILIENTECONOMY WHILE PRESERVING THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE AND CULTURE.

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

PERSISTENT POVERTY RCDG - RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS

RURAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

THE NATURAL FOODS CO-OP SECTOR IS THE NATION S FARMER-FRIENDLIEST RETAIL SECTOR, REPRESENTING A VALUE CHAIN OF PRODUCTS AND A VALUES CHAIN OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY. SUCH A SECTOR IS RAPIDLY EMERGING IN THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD SHED. THE INTENT OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONVENE A SYSTEMIC CONVERSATION AMONG CONSUMERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND PRODUCERS TO STUDY, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SHARED VISION LEVERAGING COOPERATION TO SIMULTANEOUSLY MEET CONSUMER PREFERENCES VIA ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE CONSUMER-OWNED RETAIL STORES WHILE CREATING A PROJECTED NEW PRODUCER MARKETING OPPORTUNITY VALUED AT $3-4 MILLION IN FARMGATE INCOME ANNUALLY. COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, SUPPORTED BY THREE OTHER NONPROFIT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, WILL CONVENE 15-20 NEW AND EXISTING GROCERY CO-OPS, PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS, AT LEAST ONE FARMER-FRIENDLY COOPERATIVE DISTRIBUTOR, AND AN ASSOCIATION OF SPECIALTY CROP PRODUCERS. THE APPLICANT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GRANT MANAGEMENT, WITH SUPPORT FROM AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS AND A PROJECT MANAGER. ALL PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS WILL CONVENE QUARTERLY TO CREATE SHARED UNDERSTANDING AND VISION FOR A COOPERATIVE LOCAL FOODS PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING SYSTEM SERVING THE REGION.THE WORK PLAN WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN PART THROUGH CONTRACTS FOR SPECIFIC RESEARCH STUDY ACTIVITIES PRODUCER BUSINESS EXPANSION AND CAPITALIZATION SUPPORT AND OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS TO EXTEND THE VALUE OF THE PROJECT. KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDE 1) CREATION OF SHARED VISION AND PLAN 2) FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR A COOPERATIVE WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION LOCATION SERVING THE PROJECT AREA 3) ENGAGEMENT WITH PRODUCERS INTERESTED IN SERVING THIS MARKET, WITH SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS PLANNING AND CAPITALIZATION BY THOSE PRODUCERS 4) EFFICIENT PROJECT ADMINISTRATION.

RBCS REAP IRA TECH ASSIST GRANTS

RCDG - GRANTS TO ASSIST MINORITY PRODUCERS