Dear cooperators and friends,

Welcome to FCI’s new e-newsletter! Every 4-6 weeks we will share the latest from FCI and the startup community. You can expect to learn about helpful tools and resources for startups, upcoming workshops and events from FCI, and news from startups across the country. It’s an exciting time in the startup community; a historic number of stores are set to open in 2023 and 2024, and many more are just behind them – building membership, exploring possible sites, and connecting with their neighbors. And, FCI is receiving new calls from people from Georgia to New Mexico to Connecticut to Michigan every week.

As I settle in as the new Executive Director here at FCI, one of the highlights so far has been the opportunities I’ve had to meet startup organizers, learn about your journeys toward opening the co-op that is right for your community, and hearing how FCI has helped – and can continue to help you make your vision a reality. It’s hard work, and I’m inspired by your dedication and perseverance. It’s been especially great to meet some of you in person! I was able to attend the Neighboring Food Co-op Association’s Annual Meeting in Massachusetts in March and got to meet with organizers from Assabet Co-op Market. Last week, I was in Pittsburgh at the Cooperation Works! Annual Meeting, connecting and learning with others who are providing important technical assistance and support to co-ops of all kinds.

We hope that you enjoy this newsletter. Please let us know if there’s something you’d like to see here, or if you have a story you’d like to share. The newsletter is meant to inform, inspire, and celebrate – so tell us what resonates with you!

In cooperation,
Faye

Faye Mack

P.S. For those of you that love getting physical mail (raises hand!) we’ll still be mailing out a longer newsletter twice a year. Keep an eye out for our summer newsletter hitting your mailboxes in June.

Faye with Assabet Co-op Market Board Members and GM Sam McCormick at the NFCA Annual Meeting

Resource Spotlight

The Co-op Education Graphics Toolkit

Answering the call from startup food co-ops for more resources and tools to help them consistently share education about the cooperative model while growing their co-op’s audience, FCI worked with Rachel Dominguez-Benner to create this customizable tool kit of co-op education graphics.

What: the toolkit contains easily customizable templates for social media posts, slides, coloring pages (to hand out at your tabling event!), and inforgraphics your co-op can use to share education about why co-ops matter.

Where: you can find the Co-op Education Graphics Toolkit HERE on the FCI website.

How: after you download the toolkit, click on it and go directly to the file labeled, “read first”. In this document you’ll find full instructions on how to use the items in the toolkit. Prefer to learn via video? We’ve got you covered! Rachel did an instructional video on how to use the Toolkit for FCI, you can find it HERE

Cost to use: None! This is a free resource that all cooperators are welcomed to utilize.

About Rachel: artist, activist, consultant and more, Rachel served as the Outreach Coordinator of the Gem City Market during its organizing stage – a startup food co-op that not only opened successfully in 2021, but did so with a record-breaking number of owners! You can find out more about her work HERE.

See All our Resources at FCI.coop >>

Startup UPDATES & Celebrations

Detroit People's Food Co-op organizers celebrating their groundbreaking in April, 2022

We’ll be using this section to share with you the recent milestones reached by startup food co-ops across the country—from the first milestone of incorporating as a business, to the announcement of their General Manager hire to the day the doors open.

2023 is going to see us celebrating ten startups getting their “doors on the store” so we’re dedicating our Startup Milestones section to them this month. Read the list below of startups that will be joining the ranks of open food co-ops this year and click their links to learn more about them!

Assabet Co-op Market - Maynard, MA; 10,400 total sq ft; opening late spring 2023
Bethlehem Food Co-op - Bethlehem, PA; 7,000 total sq ft; opening late 2023
Detroit People’s Food Co-op - Detroit, MI; 14,500 total sq ft; opening late 2023
Dorchester Food Co-op - Boston, MA; 6,057 total sq ft; opening summer 2023
Food Shed Co-op - McHenry, IL; 9,135 total sq ft; opening late 2023
North Flint Food Market - Flint, MI; 21,145 total sq ft; opening fall 2023
Lovettsville Co-op Market - Lovettsville, VA; 7,450 total sq ft; opening summer 2023
Prairie Food Co-op - Lombard, IL; 7,754 total sq ft; opening late 2023
Terre Foods Cooperative Market - Terre Haute, IN; 1,500 sq feet; opening summer 2023
Wild Onion Market - Chicago, IL; 5,870 total sq ft; opening fall 2023

Upcoming Events & WORKSHOPS

FCI Live! Summer Edition: June 19–29th Save the Date for our 2nd FCI Live! webinar series. More information will be available soon at our website.

Up & Coming: September 14–16th The premier conference for startup organizers is heading to St. Paul, Minnesota this year! We are already planning a great lineup of workshops for you, and some inspiring co-op tours. Registration information and a preliminary agenda will be available soon.

SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL STARTUPS

Did you know that FCI is a nonprofit organization? We are able to provide in-depth support to the next generation of food co-ops—for free—thanks to donations from co-ops, organizations, businesses, and individuals like you! Visit our website to donate today. Thank you for supporting FCI and startups across the country.

DONATE

PO Box 327
Londonderry, VT 05148
United States

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