According to the International Cooperative Alliance, a cooperative is, “A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.”

This academy is for anyone that wants to start any type of co-op (Producer, consumer, worker, housing) as well as current members, workers, and directors of existing co-ops who want to learn more and help improve their co-op. 

The cost for the sessions is covered through a grant NWCDC received through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant from the US Department of Agriculture. For assistance outside of the class session, urban co-op folks might need to establish a fee for service with us, but the classroom is free. 

We would like to keep it to either 5 unique co-ops or 30 people. 

This 10-week program will provide participants basic knowledge and skills to create Governing Documents, a decision-making matrix, a business plan, a marketing plan, the beginnings of a policy manual, and an overall strategy for membership and capitalization campaigns. Depending on the energy of your group, you could end the 10-week session with an incorporated cooperative ready to add members and start operations.  For the majority, it will give you a strong foundation on getting to the operational phase.

We have not determined the timing of the academy. We expect that it will launch in early or late Spring. The time and place will be determined once we have an idea on who is going to attend.

We will follow the guidance of the State of Washington Department of Health and other rules from Lewis County.  We will update with more information as we get closer to the event. 

According to the International Cooperative Alliance, a cooperative is, “A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.”

This academy is for anyone that wants to start any type of co-op (Producer, consumer, worker, housing) as well as current members, workers, and directors of existing co-ops who want to learn more and help improve their co-op. 

The cost for the sessions is covered through a grant NWCDC received through the Rural Cooperative Development Grant from the US Department of Agriculture. For assistance outside of the class session, urban co-op folks might need to establish a fee for service with us, but the classroom is free. 

We would like to keep it to either 5 unique co-ops or 30 people. 

This 10-week program will provide participants basic knowledge and skills to create Governing Documents, a decision-making matrix, a business plan, a marketing plan, the beginnings of a policy manual, and an overall strategy for membership and capitalization campaigns. Depending on the energy of your group, you could end the 10-week session with an incorporated cooperative ready to add members and start operations.  For the majority, it will give you a strong foundation on getting to the operational phase.

We have not determined the timing of the academy. We expect that it will launch in early or late Spring. The time and place will be determined once we have an idea on who is going to attend.

We will follow the guidance of the State of Washington Department of Health and other rules from Lewis County.  We will update with more information as we get closer to the event.