Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audiences: In Flint, Michigan, where the population is 54% Black or African American and 39% White, a recent study showed that supermarkets are only present in higher income neighborhoods and those with less tha:n 60% African American residents2. This is an example of food apartheid - when public policies and economic practices limit access to nutritious food, disproportionately affecting people of color because of location. Today, the residents of North Flint (81% African American) are claiming food sovereignty by investing in the proposed project - the full-service, cooperatively-owned North Flint Food Market.The city of Flint only has 0.4 grocery stores per 10,000 people, whereas Ann Arbor has 4 and Detroit has 1, making it twice as hard for Flint residents to access food than residents of Detroit. This is a crucial gap for Flint residents, especially in light of the water crisis, as studies show that nutritious foods, especially those with iron, calcium and Vitamin C, can mitigate the detrimental effects of lead poisoning..Our core customers are anticipated to be African American residents of North Flint, predominantly low-income families with children and mostly from the 2-mile radius around the Market. Efforts: North Flint Reinvestment has mobilized and organzied residents, grassroots community organizations, board members, and member-owners to learn and implement 7 key cooperative principles, which are the foundation of our food cooperative. During national and local training and membership outreach sessions, NFRC and the Food Cooperative Initiative (FCI) conducted the following training to stakeholders: Cooperative Principle 1: Voluntary, Open Ownership.A co-op is owned by its members. Membership is open to all without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination. People may join and leave the co-op at any time, but membership is not required in order to shop. Cooperative Principle 2: Democratic Member Control.Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Elected representatives (directors) are elected from among the membership are accountable to the membership. Members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote). Cooperative Principle 3: Member Economic Participation. Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital remains the common property of the cooperative. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative; setting up reserves; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership. Cooperative Principle 4: Autonomy and Independence. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or raise capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control as well as their unique identity. Cooperative Principle 5: Education, Training and Information. Education and training for members, elected representatives (directors/trustees), CEOs, and employees help them effectively contribute to the development of their cooperatives. Communications about the nature and benefits of cooperatives, particularly with the general public and opinion leaders, helps boost cooperative understanding. Cooperative Principle 6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives. By working together through local, national, regional, and international structures, cooperatives improve services, bolster local economies, and deal more effectively with social and community needs. Cooperative Principle 7: Concern for the Community. Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies supported by the membership. Changes/Problems:Construction cost overruns and store equipment procurement shortages have caused a delay in the store opening. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided training and professional development to member-owners, the board of directors, and General Manager. The following training and professional development classes were offered : Building Board Strength & Unity Understanding & Using Your Pro Forma Email Drip Campaigns The Perfect Board - GM Relationship Ownership Matters: The Late Organizing Stages Tools To Root Your Co-op In Community Social Media: Stories of Start-up Success How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Monthly Zoom call store planning meetings and attendance at our area block club meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?ProjectGoals and Outcomes Planned 1) Provide fresh food at affordable prices in North Flint - Wholesaler and farmers stock shelves 2) Offer nutrition education and in-store promotion of health foods to increase the healthiness of foods consumed among Member-Owners. Engage nutrionist and community outreach coordinator 3) Create new jobs for North Flint residents. Hire and train store staff 4) Increase the Market community ownership through a marketing campaign. Launch pre-opening marketing campaign to include digial marketing 5) Provide a sales channel for local farmers and artisans. Establish agreements with local farmers. a. Established relationships with 10 local food-related entities to be part of the distribution of locally grown products b. Percentage of locally sourced produce: 10% of food products to be locally sourced, increasing every year. 6) Provide racial & economic equity. a. Shoppers are satisfied with the Market and have a voice in ongoing operations b. Pursue racial and economic equity in hiring 7) Create financial sustainability for long term success a. Sales revenue including weekly sales revenue and average transaction amounts b. Profit/Loss c. Amount of equity raised from Member Owners: $45,000 to $75,000 pre-opening goal
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Store opening was delayed due to construction cost overruns and equipment procurment shortages. Consequently, the attainment of goals and outcomes have notbeen achieved.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience includes North Flint Food Market Cooperative member-owners, neighborhood block club, and community-based organizations serving north Flint, which is 98% African-American. Changes/Problems:Due to the labor shortage in the local construction industry, and supply chain issues associated with the global pandemic, construction of the NFFM was significantly delayed. Construction is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2023. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The General Manager and NFFM board of directors received board orientation and governance training in Decembrr 2022. Additional professional development training is scheduled throughout2023. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?During monthly store planning meetings, the North Flint Food Market member-owners receive information on the leadership's progress in achieving project goals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We plan to provide detailed information from our pre-opening, retail operations, and marketing plans in the next reporting period. If the store is open and functionally operating, we plan to share quantitative and qualitative information relative to the status and progress in reaching our project goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goals & Outcomes of the North Flint Food Market Project: 1. The grocery store coop has not opened to date. Soft opening is scheduled for June 15, 2023 2. Engagement of nutrition specialist and in-store promotion of healthy foods to member-owners and store patrons have not occurred to date. 3. The creation of jobs for residents has not occurred to date. Hiring will commence April-May, 2023 4. To date, member-ownership in the Co-op Market has increased to 984 5. The store has not opened to date. Preliminary discussions are underway with wholesaler and local farmers 6. Four African-American construction subconstractors were hired for the NFFM projegct. Data collection surrounding racial and economic equity in the staffing of the store will be reported in the final report 7. To date, the store has not oppend. However, the NFFM board of directors will receive financial management training from Columinate and the Food Coop Initiative in 2023.
Publications
|