This week, cooperators from the Northeast US talk about their efforts to create a "cooperative ecosystem" at the Beyond Business as Usual 2024 conference.
Then, Chan Widawski provides a step-by-step guide to starting a free store to recirculate goods within your community, build spaces of solidarity and mutual aid, and help provide for neighbors in need.
Building Regional Cooperative Ecosystems
by Cooperate Connecticut
Cooperative businesses, on principle and out of necessity, cannot exist in isolation! In order to survive and to create real, lasting economic impact in our communities, co-ops and our supporters must work together and be strategic.
How to Start a Free Store in Your Community
by Chana Widawski
Free stores are alive and evolve with their communities’ needs and abilities. In Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, our neighborhood group initially held store events called “Swap, Share and Shmooze.” We eventually launched the Hell’s Kitchen Free Store, a 24/7 outdoor sharing hub. Today, the volunteer community continues to hold pop-up events.
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Real Pickles buys Greenfield building it has called home since 2009
Greenfield Recorder — Real Pickles, a worker-owned cooperative specializing in organic, fermented foods, has bought the 311 Wells St. building it has called home since 2009. The local company bought the property from business founders Dan Rosenberg and Addie Rose Holland for $550,000 on Nov. 20 and now serves as the landlord to fellow worker-owned cooperative PV Squared, a solar design and installation company...
What's In A Name? Co-ops vs Non-Profits vs Mutal Benefit Corps
Montana Cooperative Development Center — Throughout our travels, we have noticed an alarming trend of people wanting to treat cooperatives as a charity or charitable organization. This article showcases the difference between Cooperatives, Non-profits, and Mutually Benefitted Corporations. Our Executive Director Tracy McIntyre wrote a fantastic piece about the differences and similarities between these different structures and organizations and we wanted to make sure you saw it, too...
CoFUND Grants
CoFED — The purpose of this grant is to support co-ops and small farmers in the day-to-day operations to aid in the development of their organization. We encourage legally established cooperatives and other business entities at all stages (from start-up to scale-up) to apply!...The grantee will receive up to $10,000.00. In addition to grant funding, grantees will also have access to 12 months of technical assistance in business management, financial and operational skills, and communications support...
New on our YouTube Channel
Interviews from the 2024 US Worker Co-op Conference
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