Cooperative Development Center
Cooperatives are mutually owned and democratically controlled businesses based on the values of self-help, solidarity, and social responsibility. For more than 25 years, our Cooperative Development Center has cultivated cooperative enterprise to create thriving communities.
Cooperative Development Center
Cooperatives Create Thriving Communities
Cooperatives have been the backbone of rural economies in the United States for over a century. We are proud to carry forward this legacy by developing people-centered businesses that apply time-tested models in innovative ways to promote social, economic, and cultural prosperity.
Revitalizing Main Street
Ronan Cooperative Brewery is Montana’s first and only consumer-owned cooperative brewery. Developed by Mission West as part of a downtown revitalization campaign, the co-op offers a place for community members to come together to enjoy great beer and support a thriving Main Street.
Preserving Family Farms
When our region’s only USDA-inspected meat processing facility faced closure, Mission West guided a group of local producers to reach their goal of forming a cooperative to purchase the operation. The successful launch of Glacier Processing Cooperative saved this essential infrastructure to keep family-scale ranching viable in Western Montana.
Promoting Arts and Culture
Western Montana Musicians Cooperative provides a place for community residents to perform, practice, and enjoy music with others. With assistance from Mission West, the co-op’s founders translated a vision shared among friends into a vibrant democratic organization where every member has a part to play.
Transforming Our Food System
The Northwest Food Hub Network is a partnership of farmer-owned cooperatives that work together to create market access for their producers. Under Mission West’s leadership, the Network’s members coordinate sourcing and distribution to supply a complete catalog of local food to communities across the region all twelve months of the year.
What is Cooperative Development?
We work hand-in-hand with cooperative organizers, members, and managers across a range of sectors and through every stage in the business development process.
Cooperative Formation and Start-Up
We guide organizers through the foundational steps of defining a vision, developing a viable model, designing a governance system, and launching the business. During startup, we provide education, training, and facilitation to ensure that board members and managers are supported to be successful in their roles.
Emerging and Established Cooperatives
We assist emerging cooperatives with membership drives, capital campaigns, and board recruitment and onboarding. We help established businesses plan for growth, navigate leadership transitions, and form cooperative networks.
Conversion to Cooperative Ownership
We facilitate cooperative conversions to enable outgoing owners to preserve their legacy by leaving their business in the hands of the people who know it best. Transitioning an existing business to cooperative ownership is a proven strategy for preserving jobs, retaining essential services, and building community wealth.
Meet Our Team
How We Can Help Your Cooperative
Our team provides a complete set of cooperative development services to create sustainable businesses that meet the needs of their members and strengthen their communities.
Group Facilitation
We facilitate meetings, planning retreats, and communities of practice for cooperative board members, managers, and steering committees.
Organizational Documents
We guide cooperative organizers through the development of articles of incorporation, bylaws, preferred stock offerings, and membership agreements.
Business Planning
We develop business plans that balance for-profit imperatives with for-purpose priorities to achieve sustainable growth and positive social impact.
Capitalization Strategies
We help cooperatives understand their financing options and create capital plans that support their goals for growth.
Strategic Planning
We work with leaders in cooperatives to develop long-range plans to grow sustainably, manage risk, and maintain strong member relations.
Training and Education
We provide group workshops coaching to help cooperative board members and managers succeed in their roles.
Board Governance
We design recruitment strategies, onboarding systems, and evaluation methods to strengthen cooperative governance.
Specialized Services
We make referrals to accounting, human resources, and legal experts with experience serving cooperative businesses.