Watch the Video! A Historical Transition The employees of Ward Lumber made history recently when they purchased the 130-year-old business as a worker cooperative. The transaction marks the first employee ownership contract of its kind in the North Country
Celebrating Differences
“I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want acceptance, but I want acceptance of my difference, not my sameness.” -Alison Bechdel, author of Dykes to Watch Out For We human beings have much more in common than we
Congratulations to ANCA on grant award!
The Cooperative Development Institute is excited to congratulate the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) for being awarded a grant of over $1.26 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, supported by additional funding provided by Mastercard. The grant
News coverage of the Ward Lumber ownership transition
Thanks to North Country Public Radio that just aired a great piece about Ward Lumber’s ownership transition. Check out https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/43724/20210507/employee-ownership-can-prevent-job-losses-and-closures-when-north-country-business-owners-retire There were also pieces in the Peru Gazette, LBM Journal, HBS Dealer and Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (three industry groups), Adirondack
Ward Lumber Transitions Ownership to Employees
You can also watch this short video that tells the ownership transition story: Ward Lumber Transitions to Employee Ownership FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Rob Brown, Director, Business Ownership Solutions, Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) (207) 233-2987 or rbrown@cdi.coop Alex Pond, Worker-owner, Ward Lumber (518)
No longer taking applications: Job opening: Assistant Project Manager (New England), Cooperative Business Services
Do you want to help workers build wealth through ownership and gain a sense of hope and control over their future? Do you want to help farmers, fishermen and other food producers build a sustainable, resilient, locally controlled food system?
NEROC Seeks Admin Coordinator
Are you a whiz with docs and spreadsheets? Do you relish making life smooth and easy for busy colleagues? Are logistics a snap? Then read on… The CDI NEROC program is seeking an Administrative Coordinator. This may be a full
Congratulations to Charter Oaks Village Cooperative for Winning a GrowSmart Maine Reward!
Projects that can transform a community, from Millinocket to Arundel, were named “outstanding” in this year’s Smart Growth Awards from GrowSmart Maine, at the nonprofit advocacy group’s second annual summit. Congratulations to Charter Oaks Village Cooperative for winning this prestigious award, and to
Voices from the Field: Immigrants, Collaboration, and Co-ops Revive a Maine Town
In 2012, Somali refugees started farm businesses, aided by an incubator farm program called the New American Sustainable Agriculture Project (NASAP). A few years later, CDI offered assistance to the Somali Bantu community to provide support and resources that aided
Spark Talk at Maine Association of Non-Profits Opt-in Conference
Jonah Fertig-Burd, Cooperative Development Specialist with the Cooperative Food Systems program shared a SparkTalk at the Maine Association of Non-Profits Opt-In Conference at the start of October highlighting how co-ops connect across different regional communities in Maine.