Monthly Archives: October 2019

Power in Purpose: The NCBA/CLUSA Olympia Roundtable

Morning Presentations Diane Gasaway, Executive Director of NWCDC, starts the session discussing the variety and number of co-ops in the Pacific Northwest. More importantly, how these co-ops focus on core needs: housing, food security, employment. The day begins with brief … Continue reading

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Circle of Life: The Washington Homecare Model

Circle of Life Caregiving Cooperative based in Bellingham, WA and serving Whatcom County came into existence 10 years ago. It was the first care giving co-op in Washington and created what has become the model for home care co-ops in … Continue reading

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Raíces Cooperative Farm

Cooperation comes in many forms. Grocery co-ops and large ag co-ops tend to dominate the top-of-mind awareness for many, and have a tendency to look similar; however, once one starts seeking out co-ops in the community, one can’t help but … Continue reading

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Organic Valley

Organic Valley (also known as CROPP) is a relatively young co-op in the agricultural producer model. Darigold, a big dairy co-op here in the PNW just celebrated its 100th anniversary and Land o’ Lakes will turn 100 in 1921. Organic … Continue reading

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Alberta Co-op (Portland)

The Alberta Co-op in Portland’s Northeast community is a consumer (or community) owned grocery that uses a staff collective to manage the co-op. The mission of the co-op “is to serve as a community resource and gathering place, while providing … Continue reading

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Building a New Economy

Construction companies seem ripe for the co-op model. The very nature of contracting means a team effort. Along the I-5 corridor between Bellingham and Olympia, there are three construction co-ops and more interested. Northwest Construction Co-op in Olympia focuses on … Continue reading

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International Credit Union Day

It is sometimes easy to take Credit Unions for granted in the US. They seem to be everywhere! Here in Olympia, we have WSECU (state employees), BECU (Boeing employees), TwinStar, (school teachers), OBEE (Olympia Brewing), OCCU (logging), Olympia Credit Union, … Continue reading

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Ridgeline Homecare Co-op

The newest entrant in Washington Homecare Cooperative is Ridgeline Homecare Co-op. They are in the process of obtaining their agency license. The co-op expects to serve the cities of Port Angeles and Sequim but will be licensed for Clallam County. … Continue reading

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PT Shipwrights: They Saw, They Conquered

Just a short write up today to acknowledge one of the oldest functioning worker co-ops in Washington: The Port Townsend Shipwrights Cooperative. They started out this journey (or voyage) in 1981 with 8 shipwrights and a ship’s saw. The Co-op … Continue reading

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ROC and Roll

Resident Owned Communities (ROCs) have become a thing. This term generally refers to a specific type of housing co-op that engages manufactured home parks. This is a slightly different model than what most people think of when they hear the … Continue reading

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