Resources for cooperative enterprises in Minneapolis and Minnesota
Resources
- Farm Commons (via how to start a worker-owned cooperative farm on resilience.org (Side note, was curious when i saw the resource directory and it’s a Drupal 7 site.)
- Cooperative Development Services: “CDS is a nonprofit organization created and governed by the cooperative community of the Upper Midwest.”
- Cooperative Network
- Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, resources
Assessment
Cooperatives in Minneapolis: An inventory and assessment (2016, PDF)
Government resources
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/business/C-TAP
In 2016, the City of Minneapolis expanded its Business Technical Assistance Program (B-TAP) to include services aimed at supporting the development of new Minneapolis co-operatives by launching the Co-operative Technical Assistance Program (C-TAP). This program offers a free co-op feasibility training for potential and new cooperatives and one-on-one technical assistance (consulting).
The City desires to leverage the co-op model for maximum community benefit to:
- Act as an economic development tool to reduce poverty and promote social cohesion.
- Increase racial and ethnic diversity, and community ownership.
- Support innovation, community building, and local investment by encouraging a more collaborative business model.
https://www.sos.state.mn.us/business-liens/business-forms-fees/minnesota-cooperative-forms/