For almost 35 years, we have been at the forefront of sustainable cooperative development in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
Cooperative Development Services (CDS) and its 501(c)3 charitable subsidiary, the Cooperative Development Fund of CDS (the Fund) actively support the growth of cooperative businesses at all stages, including long-established co-ops, startups, and co-op conversions in urban and rural communities. Our programs and services reflect our understanding that a cooperative must be successful both as a democratic association of members AND as an operating business. We offer analysis, planning, and educational services customized to meet your co-op’s specific needs. Our technical assistance gives co-ops tools to maximize business opportunities and gain access to necessary capital. View our Program pages to learn more.
What We Do Best
- Cooperative Startups and Education
- Cooperative Local Foods Systems
- Cooperative Business Development
- Cooperative Capitalization
To talk to us about your specific project, Contact Us.
Want to know what’s needed to successfully start a co-op? Review our Co-op 101 Tutorial.
GreenTree Co-op Market Opens New Location in Mount Pleasant, Michigan
CDS congratulates GreenTree Co-op Market as they opened their new and expanded store in downtown Mt. Pleasant MI on December 8. This project represents an expansion and relocation from their current…
Read more GreenTree Co-op Market Opens New Location in Mount Pleasant, Michigan
See Webinar on Community Investment Co-ops
On Thursday May 13, 2021, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Service and CDS hosted a webinar about formation of community real estate investment cooperatives. The webinar will support the release this…
Worker Co-op Startups and Conversions webinar
This webinar, held on Thursday, April 22, 2021, covered worker-owned cooperatives, with particular focus on the conversion of existing private businesses to cooperative ownership. You can view the webinar here.…