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SOUTH PHILLY FOOD CO-OP& KENSINGTON COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP
Katy TravalineExploring Cooperatives:
Economic Democracy and Community Development in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Wednesday, June 13, 2012Philadelphia, PA
Lehigh Avenue → Girard Avenue, Delaware Avenue → American Street
Lombard St. → Oregon Ave., 26th St. → Front St.
Mission
To open a member-owned cooperative grocery store in the Kensington area that will provide healthy, quality food, products and services to its members and the community.
To open a member-owned, co-operative grocery store that makes good food available at a fair price to all residents of South Philadelphia, while empowering the local community through sustainable practices, food-centric education, outreach, and community building.
Historical Overview
Lena Helen 2008
Civic association Positive response Steering committee
Outreach and survey Feasibility study
2010 Membership recruitment Incorporated Buyer’s Club
Allison Fritz 2010
Civic assoc., comm. mtg Positive response Steering, legal/finance, and
outreach committees Outreach and survey Studied co-ops, market study
2011 Community forum (March) Incorporated (May) Membership drive (June) Elected first board of directors
Weaver’s Way Co-op, Food Co-op Initiative, Keystone Development Corp., NKCDC, LISC
tabling at events targeted email
messages websites community meeting
house parties facebook newsletters
Ongoing Outreach
kcfoodcoop.com
Albert Yee
225 goal organizing stage → planning
stage Site search committee Fundraising coordinator Member recruitment
248 members
250 goal organizing stage → feasibility stage
Real Estate Committee Product Sourcing Committee Loan Committee Member recruitment
260 members
Structure and Functions
‘Centralized Cooperative’ ‘Consumer Cooperative’ Membership
one-time investment of $200 per household installments refundable nontransferable
own a share of the business one vote
Governance Structure
Board of Directors President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, and 4 Directors-at-Large
Committees Membership and Outreach,
Planning and Finance, Buyer's Club, Market Place
General manager
Board of Directors President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, and 7 Directors-at-Large
Committees Bookkeeping/Administration,
Financial Planning, Grants, IT, Leadership, Legal, Marketing and Communications, Membership, Operations, and Programs and Events
General manager
Membership Participation
Serve on & vote for the board
Attend meetings & vote semi-annual member
meetings Serve on committee
Why Join?
Pre-existing interest Positive experiences Founding member Expedite the process Participation in a local community-
building effort
Member Benefits(now)
Shop Local Program
Buyer's Club Influence
Shop South Philly Program
Educational classes, workshops
Influence
Member Benefits(then)
Discounts and pre-determined benefits Potential yearly rebates Continued power
Voting Serving
Open to public Working members?
Volunteering
Buyer’s Club 2x month Event tabling Hosting dinner parties Packaging food 1x
month Board and committees Volunteer coordinator
Membership recruitment Fundraising events Referring new members Board and committees Partnerships with local
civic associations or non-profits
“we’ve got this” & “we need help”
Albert Yee
Costs
Market and feasibility studies tens of thousands $$$$
A building Construction Equipment Supplies General manager
Economics and Politics
USDA $ → Rural Co-ops Small Business Association
technical assistance to all small businesses except co-ops
Banks hesitant to lend to co-ops Incorporation ≠ 501(c)(3) charitable status Local friendly financing institutions
The Reinvestment Fund Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
(PIDC) Philadelphia-area Cooperative Alliance (PACA)
Economics and Politics
Economic crisis Alternative business models Doubling – regionally and nationally 2012 International Year of Cooperatives National Cooperative Development Act
“underserved areas” “contention on the margins of the polity to
participation within it” …on their own…
Financing
Membership investments Fund-raisers hosted by local
businesses Scholarships Food stands * certification Dept
Health Greensgrow Norris Square, Palmer Park
Buyer’s Club Common Market & Lancaster Farm
Fresh
Member investments Fundraising
Happy Hours Garden Tours
Energy Co-op Partnership Fair Food Partnership Tax-deductable donation
*outreach and member recruitment tools* and funding sources
Albert Yee
“Co-operation among Co-operatives”
Weaver’s Way Food Co-op, Food Cooperative Initiative, South Philly Food Co-op, Philadelphia-area Cooperative Alliance (PACA), Mid Atlantic Food Co-op Alliance
Keystone Development Corporation, NKCDC, LISC
Greensgrow Farmers Market, Food Trust, Common Market, Lancaster Farm Fresh , local businesses
Weaver’s Way Food Co-op, Food Co-op Initiative, Kensington Community Food Co-op, Energy C-op, Mid Atlantic Food Co-op Alliance
Keystone Development Corporation
Fair Food, local businesses Cooperative Grocers’
Information Network and CDS Consulting Co-op
Philadelphia Long history of alternative food practices
and advocacy a strong culture of food enthusiasts urban agriculture food co-op communities
Three recent expansions
South Philadelphia Rich food culture Italian Market 1862, South Philadelphia was home to
Philadelphia's first consumer-owned grocery store The Union Cooperative no. 1
900 block of Federal Street.
The Neighborhoods
Large areas Many very
diverse neighborhoods
Redevelopment Transitioning
Power and Privilege Asymmetries
Risk reflecting and reinforcing the power and privilege asymmetries of the conventional food system and society-at-large
Both KCFC and SPFC low-income and minority residents are well aware of the socioeconomic divide need to focus on opening a successful
business
Power and Privilege Asymmetries
SPFC: intensive outreach and education efforts, exploring ways to more effectively recruit
SPFC & KCFC: guided by the Food Co-op Initiative hosted recruitment training workshop to learn
how to talk about and recruit for the Co-op and how to overcome people’s barriers to joining
Power and Privilege Asymmetries
KCFC Healthy Cart Program (Department of Public Health )
business and food safety training electronic benefit transfer (EBT) machines VISA debit fees for six months
Developing a program Burlington Food Co-op’s Food For All Program Mariposa Food Co-op “stand-in equity”
“a ton of work to do”
“Concern for the Community”
For all residents Profits back into the community Attracting and promoting businesses Community activities
“building a democratic association of people”
community problem-solving small-scale locally oriented organization the social processes of communities
Democratic rights and responsibilities
Scaling up democratic practices
Conclusion Driving forces
Market failure Economic crisis Cooperative advocacy Favorable public policy
“Co-operation among Co-operatives” Supporting federal legislation Democratic at micro- and macro-scale? Balance: Inclusion & Economics
Thank You
Questions?