History
During the years 2003 and 2004, Cooperative Development Services, The National Cooperative Grocers Association, NCB and NCB Capital Impact (CDS, NCB, and NCGA) received a rise of inquires from local communities seeking to start food co-ops. Realizing that there was both a need and an opportunity to provide better support to these groups, Cooperative Development Services began a research and development project based upon a vision of a support system that enables a faster and more effective startup process. The outcome was the development of a cooperative development model.
In September 2004, NCB hosted a forum of industry leaders to discuss a strategic response for new co-op development. As a result, Food Co-op 500 was created with the goal to support the start-up of 200 or more new stores by the year 2015.
The Blooming Prairie Foundation matched $50,000 from NCB to capitalize a development grant program called the Seed Fund. NCB also committed a pool of money for Sprout Loans, offered to qualifying co-ops to help bridge their financing gap as they approached opening.
In July 2005, the Food Co-op 500 web site was launched and a deadline of September 15, 2005 was set for a first round of funding.
In November 2006, Stuart Reid was hired as the first-ever national food co-op development specialist focused on start-ups. FC500 began producing training documents, workshops and other forms of support for organizers. In collaboration with the CDS Consulting Co-op, we have presented over 20 live web-based training sessions and workshop series at CCMA and other conferences.
In 2010 we incorporated as Food Co-op Initiative, a non-profit foundation carrying forward the mission of Food Co-op 500. Our primary funding now comes from a five-year Blooming Prairie Foundation grant with additional support from our original founders, established food co-ops and other cooperative developers and businesses.
