September Co-op Circle – Funding your Co-op with the Cleveland Co-op Fund

We're excited for the kick-off of Cleveland Co-op Circles this month, a new monthly event series for those working with or interested in cooperatives in Cleveland! We are co-organizing this event with Central Kinsman Wellness Committee, IRTF Cleveland, Little Africa Food Co-op, Rust Belt Riders, and Woodhill Community Co-op. The topic and format will change each month. Presentations, workshops, and offers and needs markets are all in the works. This month’s session will have some networking activities as well as a presentation from Cleveland Owns about the Cleveland Co-op Fund, our non-extractive loan fund for obtaining the money needed to start, grow, or maintain cooperative projects:

Are you interested in starting a worker or community-owned co-op, co-op housing project, co-op marketing or purchasing collective, or other cooperative endeavor? Is the money needed to get your projects off the ground (or to take it to the next level) holding you back? Financing (or “borrowed money”) has often been used as a weapon instead of a tool in our communities, where all but the already-wealthy risk losing their livelihoods while the lenders always walk away with a profit. Non-extractive financing on the other hand stands by the principle that borrowed money should never impoverish the borrower. Come learn how we lend money using this principle and how we can offer you hands-on support in applying for this funding.

This month’s event will be held at the Pilgrim UCC in Tremont, Cleveland (2592 West 14th St). Please RSVP with the "register here" button above. We will also be streaming the presentation part of the event (6:30-7:30pm) so you can tune in remotely via Zoom at this link. Stay tuned for future events and the livestream link by watching our events page, signing up for our mailing list, or following us on Instagram.

We look forward to meeting you and learning together!