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
Thank you, CDI Interns Lisa Luken and Eric Fleischmann!
Lisa Luken Lisa Luken (she, hers) is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Food Studies at the University of Southern Maine. Through her internship with Cooperative Development Institute, Lisa has supported New
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)
We published our Year in Review!
It’s here! We’re so excited to share our 2020 year in review, designed by Samara Collective, a worker owned strategic media and communications firm. Over a year has passed since the national pandemic was announced in the U.S. and we
Unbearable
“Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons, becomes as important to the rest of the country as the killing of a white mother’s son, we who believe in freedom cannot rest.” ― Ella Baker This has been a hard
Hyde Park mobile home park homeowners buy $3.25M property
For Immediate Release: Contact: Annik Paul, Cooperative Development Institute: (802) 851-0110 Paul Bradley, President, ROC USA, LLC: (603) 513-2791 Paul Nesky, Board President, Sterling View Cooperative Community: (802) 371-8440 HYDE PARK,
CDI Stands in Solidarity
CDI centers our work in collective liberation. Collective liberation recognizes that we all suffer under systems of oppression and systemic racism, and only by working together can we create safe communities where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Historically,