Northcountry Cooperative Foundation

NCF'S MISSION IS TO "TRANSFORM LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISE." WE CARRY OUT THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATIVE EDUCATION TO COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS. FROM OUR INCEPTION, WE HAVE BEEN INNOVATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL, SEEKING OUT CREATIVE, SOCIALLY ORGANIZED APPROACHES TO CHALLENGING PROBLEMS.

WORKED DIRECTLY WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS TO BUILD AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE, COOPERATIVE HOUSING, BOTH IN AN URBAN AND RURAL SETTING; CONDUCTED RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS THE CONVERSION AND ONGOING SUSTAINABILITY OF HOUSING TO COOPERATIVE OWNERSHIP; PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY- BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES. ORGANIZED AND CONDUCTED TRAINING INSTITUTES FOR HOUSING COOPERATIVES. 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & CAPACITY BUILDING - NCF PROVIDED ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND TRAINING SERVICES TO OVER 80 CO-OP BOARD LEADERS AND STAFF. HELPED THE RESIDENTS OF WOODLAWN TERRACE COOPERATIVE PURCHASE THEIR 53-UNIT MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITY IN RICHFIELD, MN, INCLUDING HELPING THE CO-OP SECURE 2.7 MILLION IN DEBT FINANCING AND 1.5 MILLION IN GRANTS. CREATED STORM SHELTER DESIGN PROTOTYPES AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DESIGN SOLUTIONS AND COLLABORATED WITH PARTNERS TO BRING LIBRARY SERVICES LIKE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER LITERACY CLASSES TO SEVERAL CLIENT CO-OPS. HELPED CO-OPS SECURE FUNDS THROUGH FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) AND THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN (EIDL). CONNECTED CO-OPS WITH STATE COVID RENTAL AID; ASSISTED BOARDS OF DIRECTORS TO MANAGE DELINQUENCIES. HOSTED THE FIFTH ANNUAL COMMON GROUND CONFERENCE, AN EVENT THAT OFFERED MULTIPLE TRAININGS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. NCF PUBLISHED QUARTERLY EDITIONS OF THE COOPERATOR, OUR TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION BULLETIN DESIGNED FOR MEMBERS OF OUR CLIENT COOPERATIVES. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO SNOW RIVER, A WORKER-OWNED MANUFACTURING FIRM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN CENTER FOR COOPERATIVES (UWCC) AND COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (CDS), NCF HELPED THE CO-OP BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SNOW RIVER'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PLAN AND ORGANIZE THE CO-OP'S ANNUAL MEETING, AND PROVIDED ONGOING FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT TO THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS GROWING CO-OP. ASSISTED WITH THE FEASIBILITY AND FORMATION PROCESS OF MORNING BELL COFFEE ROASTERS, A COFFEE SHOP AND PRODUCER LOCATED IN IOWA CITY, IA.