Winter is the time to reflect on how much we've accomplished! From supporting new cooperative entrepreneurs with hundreds of hours of free co-op coaching, to securing a renewed contract with the City of Austin Economic Development Department, to launching two new projects this fall, the Austin Co-op movement is flourishing.
This year we began developing a relationship with Go Austin Vamos Austin to create a plan to start a new food co-op in Austin. We are building on the produce distribution work GAVA has been working on to create a more sustainable and community owned alternative. Over the next 3 years, we'll work with GAVA and national co-op experts to design a food co-op that fits the needs of folks living in food deserts in north and south east Austin.
We also won a grant to support Project Connect anti-displacement efforts at the two-year-old manufactured housing Resident Owned Community, Associacíon de Residentes de North Lamar. We'll be working with ROC USA and the Resident Board to address health and safety issues and leadership development that will ensure resident owners can maintain their property and stay in place despite threats of property taxes, new gentrification, and rising costs of living. Most of the funds will go directly to low-income resident leaders.
This energy gives us momentum in our mission to build and expand the Central Texas cooperative economy. This success is possible because of years of advocacy work, the courage to be cooperative, and support from people like you!
Help sustain our work by joining the Co-op Club with a monthly $25 donation. Support us in staffing up to succeed with our projects and continue growing this movement.
In Cooperation,
Drew De Los Santos
(she/her)
Program Director
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