A New Approach to Co-op Development
If you’re paying close attention, you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned or shared a Coffee with Katie topic for April. This month has gotten away from me and I’ve decided to skip Coffee with Katie this month…but rest assured we are back on track for May and you don’t want to miss this one.
I can’t begin to count the number of conversations I’ve had in the last few months with co-ops who are looking for a different way to build their stores. These are sometimes rural communities, or urban communities who can’t find adequate square footage, or they are co-ops who just can’t raise a bazillion dollars to open a store because they are in an underserved area.
Sean Park and Kristin Terry of Illinois Cooperative Development Center (through Western Illinois University) are approaching co-op development a little different in IL. They’ve gotten the attention of the Governor and Lt. Governor who have recently announced the Illinois Grocery Initiative which includes $14 million in grant funding available to start-up grocery stores in underserved areas (and that includes co-ops!) Join us on May 16 at 12 noon CST.
You don’t want to miss this conversation! Trust me.
Coffee with Katie is a virtual and FREE monthly networking and educational event hosted as a way for me to P6 (Co-ops helping Co-ops) some of the great information I’ve learned over the years.
2 Comments
Noah Skocilich
This all sounds really exciting. Is that $14 million in total grants to be awarded or up to $14 million per store?
coopcoaching
It’s a total of $14 million! 🙂
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