Cooperative Development Services
 | |
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Headquarters | Madison, Wisconsin St. Paul, Minnesota |
Key people | Kevin Edberg, Executive Director Gary Sloan, Chair |
| Website | cdsus.coop |
Cooperative Development Services (CDS) is a nonprofit organization engaged in cooperative development in the United States. CDS works primarily with food cooperatives and senior housing cooperatives, providing consultation services and co-sponsoring conferences and programs for board members, managers and other professionals in the cooperative sector.
CDS has staff in Madison, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minnesota and is run by a 12-member board of directors.
History[edit]
Cooperative Development Services was founded in 1985 by Rod Nilsestuen.[1]
Programs[edit]
Cooperative Board Leadership Development (CBLD) is a program providing support to the boards of food cooperatives. CBLD works with cooperatives to help define the role that Boards play in relation to staff.[2]
Policy Governance: A complete system of board leadership that is proactive, future-based and clearly differentiates between governance and management responsibilities. It empowers management while assuring accountability of performance.
Forestry cooperatives[edit]
Cooperative Development Services assists in the development of sustainable forestry cooperatives and associations. Since 1998, CDS has been involved in the formation of 25 forestry cooperatives. CDS has received nearly $1 million in grant assistance from the USDA's rural cooperative development grants program.[3] CDS is a founding partner in WoodWorks, a network of organizations that provide services to forestry cooperatives.
Food Co-op 500[edit]
Food Co-op 500 is a program to increase the number of food cooperatives in the United States to 500 by 2015.[4] As of 2009, there were approximately 300 food cooperatives in operation. The program is supported by CDS along with the National Cooperative Grocers Association and the National Cooperative Bank.[5] CDS offers free outlines detailing the seven steps in forming a cooperative.[6]
Renewable energy[edit]
CDS assists organizations with founding businesses and funding projects in the renewable energy industry. CDS has helped organizations with projects involving biodiesel and wind energy.
Value-added agriculture[edit]
CDS works with agricultural and livestock businesses to create revenue through value-added products. The organization assists businesses in obtaining grants such as the Value-Added Producer Grants available through the USDA.
References[edit]
- ^ Chaptman, Dennis. Doyle enlists farm co-op leader. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 3 January 2003.
- ^ Stone, Mary. Natural foods co-op finds solid ground. Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Rochester Business Journal. 27 November 2009.
- ^ NCBA honors Sen. Kohl. Rural Cooperatives. 1 July 2001.
- ^ Gutierrez, Bertrand M. Group Calls Meeting to Explore Setting Up Food Co-op; Residents Say They Need Convenience of a Nearby Grocery Store as Downtown Develops. Winston-Salem Journal. 21 January 2006.
- ^ Petersen, Laura. Trying to be cooperative: Community-owned market envisioned on H Street corridor. The Common Denominator. 19 September 2005.
- ^ Dresang, Joel. Co-ops give power to the customers. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 16 August 1996.