Food Co-Op Initiative

Food Co-Op Initiative provided customized training to startups, including board development, financial feasibility, site selection, organizing work plans, etc. Food Co-Op Initiative co-hosted the up & coming conference for startup Food co-ops including an extra day of sessions planned and presented by black cooperative developers for their peers. Development specialists from Food Co-Op Initiative also presented and facilitated workshops at other events and provided one-on-one support to startup organizers. We continued a series of live webinars addressing topical issues for startup organizers called fci live. We had record attendance and are recording the webinars so they can be accessed for free on our youtube channel. Our peer learning network continues to serve startup co-ops facing similar organizing issues who meet monthly to learn and share. These groups have been tremendously successful and keep organizers engaged and informed, leading to better outcomes. Food Co-Op Initiative produced new recorded and printed training and reference guides for Co-Op organizers. We host a host web-based "classroom" training programs for boards of directors and business planning. We collaborate extensively with other development centers. Food Co-Op Initiative provided support to about 100 startups and over 12 co-ops are expected to open in the next 18 months.