Clear Creek Food Cooperative

Greetings.  Some of you have asked us for an update on the process of moving the Co-op off campus, and realizing that it’s been more than a month since our last website post, that’s certainly fair!

As Kiersten noted in August, we’ve continued our work on opening the Co-op in a new location in Richmond, with a focus on a strong cooperative model for running a small grocery store with complementary educational/outreach programs.  A few pieces have to come into place before that move can be finalized, and here’s the status of each:

• We’d like to re-form the Co-op as a different legal entity that allows for true cooperative ownership.  We’re currently working with a local attorney who is helping us review what that legal entity should be, and how best to create it.  Digging up some past paperwork to assist in this transition has taken longer than we’d hoped, but we’re moving forward.
• As soon as that legal entity is formed, we need to negotiate and sign a lease for space in Richmond.  We’ve looked at a number of different location possibilities and we have our eye on a favorite, but until we can say that it’s final, we don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up (or create any confusion) about where we’ll be located.  If you’re interested in the particulars of that conversation, just ask.
• We’re also working on finalizing a new membership model that will help make the Co-op financially self-sustaining.  We have lots of great examples and resources available to us about how other Co-ops are doing this, and of course we have many years of experience with a particular kind of model at our own Co-op, so we’re excited to be reshaping things here to take us in a new direction.
• We’re cleaning and packing up our old space on the Earlham Campus.  After many years at that location, there’s been a lot to do to get ready to move!
• Continuing to manage the finances and operations of the Co-op.  Yes, even though we’re pretty much closed, there are a number of business administration items that continue to be necessary.

Of course, we’re taking on all of these tasks with a very committed part-time “transition coordinator” (THANK YOU KIERSTEN!) and a volunteer board with limited time.  We realize that these things may not be moving forward as quickly as some of us had originally hoped, but we remain optimistic and excited about what the next phase of the life of the Co-Op will look like when we’re done.

We hope you’re excited too!  If you’d like to be a part of any of the above work or have other ideas or suggestions for helping the Co-op, just get in touch.  Thanks for your support.

Chris Hardie
On Behalf of the Board of Directors