2016 is shaping up to be Shared Capital Cooperative’s busiest year ever. Shared Capital originated nearly $5.5 million in loans to more than 25 cooperatives this year. The financing supported affordable housing, worker-owned businesses, as well as small farmers and grocery co-ops from Seattle to Atlanta and from New York to Texas. “We are seeing…  Read More »

“When the market is filled with people and flowers, there is a contagious feeling that we’ve achieved something really special,” explains Debra Prinzing of Slow Flowers. Eighty percent of the cut flowers sold in the US are imported. The cooperatively owned Seattle Wholesale Growers Market is trying to change that. Located inside the Seattle’s historic…  Read More »

The Organic Valley Principle 6 Coopertive Growth Fund recently announced its first loans, approving financing for Lexington Cooperative Market, Linden Hills Co-op, and Dill Pickle Food Co-op. The loans support the expansion of each of the co-ops. Lexington Cooperative Market is building its second store in Buffalo, New York; Linden Hills Co-op is remodeling its store…  Read More »

Sustainergy launched this year as one of many union worker cooperatives beginning to form around the country. Sustainergy is a worker-owned, residential contracting business that helps homeowners reduce their energy impact at low cost by providing free energy audits and retrofitting houses to make them more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable. Sustainergy organized in early…  Read More »

The Durham Co-op Market is a start-up co-op and has a newly constructed store located between downtown Durham and Duke University with 7,000 square feet of retail space. The store is off to a very successful start with sales being significantly above budget. The number of owners has increased by about 500 in just six…  Read More »