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The LOCAL Fund: Worker Ownership Awards its First Four Grants

Fred

Nexus Community Partners’ Shared Ownership Center awards $420,000 to four Saint Paul worker-owned cooperatives

SAINT PAUL, MN—Today, the Shared Ownership Center at Nexus announced its first four grants awarded to Storehouse Grocers and Coffee Co-op, Twin Cities Impact Cooperative, Terra Firma Building and Remodeling Cooperative, and The Improve Group. The LOCAL Fund: Worker Ownership is a grant program in partnership with the City of Saint Paul’s Office of Financial Empowerment.

The awards represent the deep investment the City of Saint Paul is making in worker-owned cooperatives. In addition to the financial awards, grantees received and will continue to receive free technical assistance from the Shared Ownership Center to support their continued development.

“The City of Saint Paul is excited to invest in shared ownership as an approach to building a vibrant and equitable economic future for our residents and communities,” said Ikram Koliso, Interim Director of the Office of Financial Empowerment. “The LOCAL Fund is a commitment to what that future can look like.”

The grant to Storehouse Grocers and Coffee Co-op will support the buildout of their new North End location at 1067 Rice Street, which will include a coffee-roasting operation, a micro grocery store, and cafe. Currently the co-op has five worker-owners, two of which are graduates of Social Kitchen Fellowship, a workforce development program.

The grant to Twin Cities Impact Cooperative will fund culturally responsive, in-home care services. They plan to build their customer base by offering meal preparation, non-emergency medical transportation, and homecare services, with the goal of opening an adult daycare facility.

The grant awarded to Terra Firma Building and Remodeling Cooperative will expand their cabinet production and workforce in the Creative Enterprise Zone. Founded in 2013 by a summer camp crew, this growing construction co-op creates beautiful, custom-made homes.

The grant awarded to The Improve Group will supplement a significant investment in upgrading their technology, including devices and networks. The Improve Group is an evaluation consulting firm that transitioned to a worker-owned cooperative in August 2023.

Employee-owned businesses, such as co-ops, create a 92% increase in household net worth, a 33% higher hourly wage, and 53% longer job tenure.* By resourcing shared ownership, the LOCAL Fund builds community wealth, anchors jobs locally, grows the local economy and tax base, and centers an ownership culture uplifting residents of Saint Paul now and for generations to come.

“We are immensely grateful to the City of Saint Paul and Nexus Community Partners for recognizing the importance of worker ownership that builds immense wealth in our community. This grant is an investment into generational wealth for people who love Saint Paul and call it home.” – Carl Johnson, Founder of Storehouse Grocers and Coffee Co-op

Comprised of two programs, the LOCAL Fund leverages $2.5 million dedicated to supporting worker-owned cooperatives and community ownership entities in Saint Paul. The LOCAL Fund: Worker Ownership offers grants and technical assistance for worker co-op startups, conversions of existing businesses, and existing co-ops. The LOCAL Fund: Community Ownership supports community ownership entities, like real estate investment cooperatives, with grants and technical assistance for predevelopment, acquisition, demolition, and rehabilitation of commercial properties.

The Shared Ownership Center led a multi-modal outreach campaign to connect with community organizations, leaders, and businesses by meeting with key stakeholders, presenting at District Council meetings, sending letters to 725 Saint Paul business addresses, tabling at events, and hosting a seven-part business planning webinar series for potential startup co-ops and businesses interested in converting to a co-op.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners, through the City of Saint Paul, by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The LOCAL Fund: Worker Ownership and Community Ownership programs have rolling applications. Schedule a consultation to learn how you can apply here.

*Source: 2018 update on Employee-Owners (NCEO), https://www.ownershipeconomy.org/research/2018-update/ By resourcing shared ownership, the LOCAL Fund builds community

Rooted in Legacy, Owning Our Future was the second event in our 20th anniversary series, highlighting how sharing bounty and abundance is everything—and together, we can create a brighter, more cooperative future. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us on June 5!

During the two-hour gathering, we shared the history of Community Wealth Building at Nexus; gave overviews of our North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship and Shared Ownership Center; and we listened to an incredible panel of Nexus alumni and partners:

Some key takeaways:

  • Collective solidarity is how we take care of each other.
  • Owning our labor means having control over the work we do and how the value we create is shared. It’s about making decisions together, getting a fair share, and not just working for someone, but working with others to build something we all benefit from.
  • Worker-owned cooperative models help communities push back against systems that concentrate power and wealth in the hands of a few. By giving workers collective control over their workplaces, these models build local power, promote self-determination, and create alternatives that prioritize people over profit.
  • Our families have been involved in cooperatives for generations. Collectivism has been in us for generations.

We wrapped up by asking, what does Community Wealth Building mean to you? Answers ranged from abundance, healing, and connection to strength, sustainability, and cooperation. Check out the full word cloud below!

Since April, our Shared Ownership Center has been hosting business-planning webinars that break down the key components in running a successful business. From concept to plan, we’ve gone over structure, finances, and fundraising, with a focus on creating and transitioning to a worker-owner cooperative business. Thank you to everyone who’s been along for the journey!

Missed a session? Check out the recordings here!

Our final webinar, Application for the LOCAL Fund, is Thursday, June 26, 3-4:30 pm CT. Now that you know the business planning basics, it’s time to learn how the LOCAL Fund can help! We’ll review the parts, process, and timeline for the application. Fill out the form below to register!

Business Planning Webinar Series 
Session 7: How to Apply for the LOCAL Fund  

Thank you for your interest in the Shared Ownership Center's Business Planning Webinar Series. Registration for this session is now closed. 

 

To learn more about the LOCAL Fund, go to: https://nexuscp.org/program/shared-ownership-center-at-nexus/local-fund/

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Join us Wednesday, June 18, 3-4:30 pm CT to learn the Five C’s of Cooperative Credit, how to shop around for the right loan, and go over a sample loan application!

Each session in our Business Planning Webinar Series builds upon the last and is aligned with the LOCAL Fund application. By the end of the series, if the LOCAL Fund is a good fit for you and your team, you will be ready to apply!

Fill out the form below to register for Session 6: Access to Capital.

Business Planning Webinar Series 
Session 6: Access to Capital 

Thank you for your interest in the Shared Ownership Center's Business Planning Webinar Series. Registration for this session is now closed. 

 

To learn more about the LOCAL Fund, go to: https://nexuscp.org/program/shared-ownership-center-at-nexus/local-fund/

 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Join our fifth Business Planning Webinar on Thursday, June 5, 3-4:30 pm CT! We’ll cover everything you need to know about startup costs, revenue, expenses and more.

Each webinar builds upon the last and is aligned with the LOCAL Fund application. By the end of the series, if the LOCAL Fund is a good fit for you and your team, you will be ready to apply! Missed a session? Find the recordings here.

Fill out the form below to register for Session 5: Projections, Sources & Uses.

Business Planning Webinar Series 
Session 5: Projections, Sources & Uses 

Thank you for your interest in the Shared Ownership Center's Business Planning Webinar Series. Registration for this session is now closed. 

To learn more about the LOCAL Fund, go to: https://nexuscp.org/program/shared-ownership-center-at-nexus/local-fund/ 

 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Our Business Planning Webinar Series is in full swing! Join our fourth session, Conversion Basics, on Thursday, May 22, 3-4:30 pm CT. We’ll dive into the feasibility of converting existing businesses into cooperatives and go over the transition process.

Each webinar builds upon the last and is aligned with the LOCAL Fund application. By the end of the series, if the LOCAL Fund is a good fit for you and your team, you will be ready to apply!

Fill out the form below to register for Session 4: Conversion Basics.

Business Planning Webinar Series
Session 4: Conversion Basics

Thank you for your interest in the Shared Ownership Center's Business Planning Webinar Series. Registration for this session is now closed. 

To learn more about the LOCAL Fund, go to: https://nexuscp.org/program/shared-ownership-center-at-nexus/local-fund/ 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

In March, we kicked off our 20th anniversary event series with a celebration of the Boards & Commissions Leadership Institute. Now we’re gearing up for our second event—and you’re invited!  

Our next virtual gathering will highlight our North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship and the Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus. Mark your calendar for Community Wealth Building: Rooted in Legacy, Owning Our Future on June 5, 10 am – 12 pm CT on Zoom. 

Over the past 13 years, we have been carefully laying the foundation for Community Wealth Building to grow inside and outside of Nexus. Now, in a time of ever-increasing privatization and the erosion of public resources, we are poised to meet the moment. Sharing bounty and abundance is everything.  

Our Shared Ownership Center supports local worker and real estate investment cooperatives to change the face of ownership, while the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship approaches Community Wealth Building from a reparative framework rooted in Black culture.  Come learn about our work and how we envision a brighter, more cooperative future!

Guest Speakers:

  • Amoké Kubat, Yo Mama’s House Founder
  • Carl Johnson, Storehouse Grocers & Coffee Founder
  • Joe Vital, East Phillips Neighborhood Institute Interim Executive Director

Nexus Community Partners Event Registration

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Meet Our Speakers

Amoké Kubat

Creative culture bearer, artist, and activist Amoké Awele Kubat is a Minneapolis “Northsider for life” who has been empowering mothers and families since 1987. She uses writing and art-making to speak truth to power and to hold a position of wellness in an America sick with inequalities and inequities. Amoké’s co-op, Yo Mama’s House, is an art and healing space for mothers of all ages.

Carl Johnson

Carl Johnson is a dynamic and visionary leader serving as the Lead Pastor of Faith City Church in St. Paul, MN. He is a key figure in addressing food insecurity and fostering economic development in St. Paul. Pastor Johnson is the driving force behind Storehouse Grocers and Coffee, an innovative initiative that functions as both a grocery store and a community hub.

Joe Vital

Joe Vital is an Indigenous land defender, leader, and speaker from South Minneapolis. An enrolled member of the Red Lake Nation and a proud Mexican focused on bringing Indigeneity to the mainstream, Joe is committed to promoting the protection of Turtle Island and elevating voices of Indigenous stakeholders. He serves as the Interim Executive Director of East Phillips Neighborhood Institute.

Our friends at CoMinnesota, Minnesota Farmers Union, the University of Minnesota Morris, and West Central Initiative are launching the first-ever Minnesota Cooperative Summit this summer! Hear from speakers (including Nexus!) on how co-ops have been powering progress for generations.

Minnesota has a rich history of cooperative success, from rural electricity to credit unions to local food systems. The Minnesota Cooperative Summit is your chance to connect with this legacy, learn from innovators, and be part of the next chapter in cooperative development.

You don’t need to be in a co-op to attend. This event is designed to inspire newcomers, spark partnerships, and bring fresh energy to the idea of shared ownership. This event is for YOU if you’re:

  • Interested in launching a community-based project
  • A leader seeking new ways to retain employees or pass along your business
  • Curious about models that center people, not just profit

Join us July 30 at the University of Minnesota Morris! Learn more and register here.

We kicked off our LOCAL Fund webinar series with a business plan breakdown and co-op creation guidelines. Our third session, Finance 101, takes place Thursday, May 8, 3-4:30 pm CT on Zoom. Learn the ins and outs of budgeting, balance sheets, and cash flows!

Each webinar builds upon the last and is aligned with the LOCAL Fund application. By the end of the series, if the LOCAL Fund is a good fit for you and your team, you will be ready to apply!

Fill out the form below to register for Session 3: Finance 101.

Business Planning Webinar Series
Session 3: Finance 101

Thank you for your interest in the Shared Ownership Center's Business Planning Webinar Series. Registration for this session is now closed. 

To learn more about the LOCAL Fund, go to: https://nexuscp.org/program/shared-ownership-center-at-nexus/local-fund/ 

 

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The LOCAL Fund is a collaboration between Nexus Community Partners and the City of Saint Paul to build community wealth, anchor jobs locally, grow the local economy and tax base, and center a cooperative ownership culture that uplifts St. Paul residents for generations to come. What exactly is shared ownership, and why is it so powerful? Hear from Nexus’ Christina Nicholson and Repa Mekha in the video below!

In April, the Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus hosted our second Real Estate Cooperative Convening!

What’s a real estate investment co-op, you ask? Real estate has long been used as a tool to extract wealth from neighborhoods. These types of cooperatives, nicknamed REICos, flip the script and share the benefits of ownership locally.

Over lunch, we chatted about what REICos can accomplish together and our dreams for a future where more neighbors own their neighborhoods. Thank you to all who gathered with us!

  • Taproot Investment Cooperative
  • South Como Co-op
  • Midway Investment Cooperative
  • East Phillips Neighborhood Institute
  • Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers
  • Cooperative Development Services
  • African Career, Education, and Resources, Inc.
  • Local Initiatives Support Corporation
  • Shared Capital Cooperative

And many thanks to McKnight Foundation for sponsoring the event!

Make your co-op dream a reality with the Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus! The second session in our spring webinar series takes place Thursday, April 24, 3-4:30 pm CT on Zoom. We’ll cover how to assemble your dream team, start planning your bylaws, and accessing an attorney and technical assistance.

Each webinar builds upon the last and is aligned with the LOCAL Fund application. By the end of the series, if the LOCAL Fund is a good fit for you and your team, you will be ready to apply!

Fill out the form below to register for Session 2: Creating Your Cooperative.

Business Planning Webinar Series
Session 2: Creating Your Cooperative

Sorry, this form is not available.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP1612 awarded to Nexus Community Partners by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.