Capital Impact Partners and Blooming Prairie Foundation grants will enable FCI to create new research and pilot projects in low-income urban food deserts. Food Co-op Initiative (FCI) thanks Capital Impact Partners for awarding us their 2017 Innovation grant, to support our new initiative in urban, low-income areas that have become food deserts. The Blooming Prairie […]
It’s official. Up & Coming 2018 is scheduled for March 16-17 in Milwaukee, WI. This is THE event for startups—with peers and pros teaching over 50 workshops on all stages of new retail food co-op development. Get it on your calendar now so you don’t miss out. View info on past Up & Coming food […]
June 8-10, 2017 in Minneapolis, MN — Our North Star: Cooperate to Differentiate — The annual CCMA conference brings together General Managers and Board Members from open co-ops all over the U.S. Startups are welcome to attend, but FCI suggests that startups in the IMPLEMENTATION stage will get the most out of this conference. For […]
Learn more and register on their website. This conference for startups and existing cooperativez in California will include presentations by FCI’s Stuart Reid.
We are excited that our newest resource, the comprehensive book The FCI Guide to Starting a Food Co-op, is now available for your immediate download and use. This all-new book includes steps, case studies, templates, and much more for all stages of retail food co-op development. It is the starting point for all groups developing a new consumer-owned retail food […]
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Registration in now open for the 2017 Up & Coming food co-op conference, to be held in Milwaukee, WI on March 10-11, 2017 (with selected pre-conference workshops on March 9.) Last year we were pleased to have representatives from 64 startup co-ops, and an army of supportive consultants and trainers. Do not […]
NOVEMBER 12, 2016 — SAVE THE DATE! Are you a small and open retail food co-op in IA, MI, MN, ND, SD, or WI? Or a new startup co-op in those states? Join us in Bloomington, MN on November 12, 2016! Visit the Small and Strong website to get more information and register for this incredible, […]
Common Ground Food Co-op and the Food Co-op Initiative invite you to the “Building the Startup Knowledge Base” Hello, Midwest Cooperators! It’s for the 4th annual IL Startup Workshop Day,. Can you believe it? We’ll be gathering again at Common Ground Food Co-op in Urbana, IL on Saturday, July 16th, 2016. We hope to see […]
The crowd gathered at the CCMA conference in early June gave a standing ovation to the Renaissance Community Co-op (RCC) board, staff, and consultants as they accepted the 2016 Startup Award of the Year from Stuart Reid of Food Co-op Initiative. “This startup has captured our food co-op community’s attention and imagination in unique ways over the […]
The long-awaited new Capital Campaign Workbook: A Guide to Raising Member Capital for Retail Food Co-ops is now available to view or download – just CLICK HERE! Or visit our Resource Library! You will find updated info on membership and member equity, raising capital, cases studies, and more. Check it out soon. Learn more about it at […]