What do the largest co-op in the United States, a recovering strip mall, and a beer patio overlooking the Mississippi River during sunset have in common?
They were all stops on the CooperationWorks! Co-op Tour of the Twin Cities! The day-long September tour scooted across the metro to learn about farmer-owned, consumer, real estate, financial, and developers of cooperatives.
The tour stopped at and met with folks from:
🚜 CHS Inc: The largest co-op in the U.S. and a global agribusiness owned by farmers and member co-ops based in Inver Grove Heights
🌱 Taproot Investment Co-op: A real estate investment co-op working to preserve historic places and keep small businesses in Saint Paul’s Creative Enterprise Zone
💸 Shared Capital Cooperative: A community development financial institution that supports many co-ops across the U.S.
📈 Cooperative Development Services: Supporting co-op businesses in MN, WI, and IA
🛍️ IGNITE Women Business Investment Group: A real estate investment co-op that co-owns and manages Shingle Creek Center with African Career, Education, & Resources Center in Brooklyn Center
🧀 The Wedge: A consumer co-op connecting local growers and makers to Minneapolis residents since 1974
🍻 Broken Clock Brewery: A member-owned co-op in NE Minneapolis
🌽 Farmers Kitchen + Bar: A farm-to-table restaurant owned by farmer-members of the MN Farmers Union in downtown Minneapolis
CooperationWorks! is a national network of cooperative developers, bringing cooperators together since 1999. They have been a huge resource to the Nexus Community Wealth Building team, and we were thrilled that they chose the Twin Cities for their co-op tour this year! They offer great classes and resources—check them out if you’d like to deepen your co-op education!