CDS is governed by a 13-member board of directors, with all members drawn from and morally accountable to the cooperative community of the Upper Midwest. Board member selection is guided by a governance policy encouraging diversity that reflects the cooperatives…

Cooperative Development Services empowers communities and creates just economies through cooperation. That means we support groups as they envision how their collaboration might provide needed services in their communities: like grocery stores and movie theaters; how workers can become owners…

CDS empowers communities and creates just economies through cooperation. In the midst of a pandemic and challenging economic times, we are receiving unprecedented requests for assistance. Just since August, CDS has opened project files for three new startups as well…

Between January and May 2021, CDS will offer an online co-op feasibility training course, provide individualized consulting to 3-4 new or existing co-ops in Minneapolis, and offer free 1-hour webinars on worker ownership conversion and real estate investment co-ops, all…

It’s time to plan for federal grant applications. In August we announced successful applications worth $458,000 for three clients in the USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program. This program will provide cost-shared support for feasibility studies, business plans or working…