In partnership with our friends at the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC), CDS is exploring cooperative childcare solutions in the Upper Midwest. Access to affordable childcare is a known challenge in rural communities, and the barriers are vast:…

The 23rd annual Senior Housing Cooperative Conference is set for May 20-21, 2026 at the Doubletree Hotel at Hilton of Mpls/Bloomington. Stay tuned for details! Conference planning has begun in earnest, so please feel free to contact Vicky Chaput, vchaput@cdsus.coop, with…

CDS has worked with food co-ops for nearly 40 years, and small grocery co-ops hold a special place in that history. These member-owned stores serve as community hubs and sources for fresh, local, and natural foods in small towns across the Upper…

CDS is offering a free, four-part training series from January 21–February 4, 2026, for startup producer cooperatives, funded by a Regional Food Systems Infrastructure grant from the MDA. Registration is free—please join us! Session 1: Capper-Volstead Essentials: Legal Foundations for…