Let's solve our communities' most pressing issues together.

Help us scale our impact

Preserving affordable housing one community at a time

CDI’s New England Resident-Owned Communities (NEROC) Program helps manufactured homeowners cooperatively purchase and democratically manage their communities. We’ve helped residents at 59 manufactured-home communities across New England purchase their communities (the land underneath their homes), representing 5,800 individual homes that are now permanently affordable.

Supporting business owners in planning their exit strategy to preserve businesses and jobs

We work with business owners and their employees to think through whether conversion to employee ownership is feasible and could meet their needs, whether as a succession plan or as a growth strategy. Since 2018, our Business Ownership Solutions Program has led 28 businesses through transitions to employee-owned cooperatives, creating ownership opportunities for more than 521 workers and helping them secure over $28 million in capital to buy those businesses.

Meeting our communities’ needs through creative business models

We support startups and established cooperatives to meet their needs through technical assistance and training. Our experienced technical assistants guide startups through the process of inception, design, and launch. Our Cooperative Business Services Program has helped to form 181 co-op startups, representing more than 880 new jobs in the cooperative economy, and has assisted more than 216 existing co-ops with growth and transformation planning.

Help us reach our goal!

The Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) is a nationally recognized nonprofit and leader in the cooperative space, serving communities in the Northeast including New England and New York. With 30 years of experience in cooperative development and our deep understanding of the unique needs of the communities in our region, CDI develops and strengthens a wide range of cooperative enterprises to help us live and work better.

CDI News

CDI awarded $17.8M to repair failing water infrastructure for thousands of households

CDI receives $100K to support cooperative immigrant food businesses in the Northeast

Residents purchase manufactured home park for $26M, first deal of its kind in Maine

Who we serve

What people are saying about CDI

“The purchase of our community provides a long-term benefit for the lives of more than 275 residents who currently are tenants, but equally important, those who will live in the cooperative long after we’re gone. CDI has guided us through every step of this challenging process, always with competence, clear direction, diplomacy and kindness,” said Janet Fournier, Board President and member of the Blueberry Fields Cooperative.

“It was both painful and exhilarating. Having CDI there for us was so helpful because they are familiar with the structures and models of cooperatives. There was a lot of communication and building consensus. All of us own businesses and we want to be executive. But we realized that we are usually in a much better place at the end when we work together and give ourselves time and grace to build. You have to surround yourself with smart people,” said Mary Lou Hoskins, owner of Cedar Mill Farm in Exeter, and President of the Maine Flower Collective.

“Without CDI, our transition to resident ownership would’ve never happened. The logistics involved are not something any ordinary folks would be privy to, but the CDI team fully instilled hope and knowledge when we needed it most. Now, not only do we have control of our future but we have a closer community as well," said Gary Bird, Bissellville Estates resident and board president.

Let's solve our communities' most pressing issues together.

Help us scale our impact

Preserving affordable housing one community at a time

Supporting business owners in planning their exit strategy to preserve businesses and jobs

Meeting our communities’ needs through creative business models

Help us reach our goal!

CDI News

CDI awarded $17.8M to repair failing water infrastructure for thousands of households

CDI receives $100K to support cooperative immigrant food businesses in the Northeast

Residents purchase manufactured home park for $26M, first deal of its kind in Maine

Who we serve

Residents and owners of manufactured-home communities

Business owners

Start-ups

Established cooperatives

Immigrants

Housing opportunities for people and equity

What people are saying about CDI

Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates on cooperatives in the Northeast!