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CLipper City Co-op Mission & Goals

 

Mission 

 

Clipper City Food Co-op is a community owned grocery store dedicated to providing access
to locally sourced food, strengthening the regional economy, and promoting health and well-being.

 

We will accomplish our mission by:

 

1. Nurturing community engagement.

  • Follow the core principles of cooperative management and democratic decision-making, including the principles of inclusive excellence, fairness, transparency, and shared responsibility.

  • Supply products to meet the diverse community food needs and preferences.

  • Create opportunities for vibrant community engagement through social networking, civic pride, and partnerships among individuals, organizations, governments, and businesses. 

 

2. Cultivating local, sustainable agricultural and food production.

  • Showcase food and products from local and regional businesses

  • Support the development of local agricultural, food, and other businesses in the community.

  • Feature products produced and distributed using sustainable and environmentally sound practices.

  • Highlight products that support the responsible treatment of living things impacted by the food chain.

 

3. Operating a sustainable business that fosters growth in                          

    Manitowoc County.

  • Create good jobs that pay fair wages and provide quality benefits.

  • Maintain a high quality business that attracts other enterprises and consumers to downtown Manitowoc. 

  • Manage member and investor resources in a fiscally responsible way.

  • Deliver superior customer service that fosters community.  

 

4.  Providing access to healthy, quality food and food education.

  • Provide access to nutritious and tasty food at fair prices.

  • Offer education on healthy food choices and sound agricultural and food systems.

  • Supply high quality local and organic food from reliable sources for the optimal health of consumers.

 

 

Clipper City Co-op Bylaws

 

 

 

STEERING COMMITTEE

Planning & Progress

The 1970’s brought about a large push for coops across the country and Manitowoc, like most towns, opened a small volunteer run co-op.  

Manitowoc's first Co-op was volunteer run and restricted to members only.  This small endeavor chugged along for a few years, but volunters soon dwindeled and the little Co-op fizzled out.

However, that enthusiasm for local, healthy food is still alive and thriving and many people are saying,  Manitowoc is ready for a local full service cooperative grocery store, supporting local producers and providing healthy food to all.  

This new grocery store will be accessible to all and will strive to be the  local authority on healthy food and healthy lifestyle choices.

Providing a community hub, where neighbors meet neighbors, where good jobs are created and resources and talent from the communty come together to create a sustainable business model.
 
People are talking!  With over 1000  followers on social media and generating enthusiasm througout the community, it's becoming clearer everyday, the importance of eating whole, clean foods from an honest source is an important business endeavor for the community.  

The growing popularity of Farmers Markets, where having a farmer look you in the eye as they sell you their food, assures you of the committment they have in producing healthy, sustainable food for us all.  
 
The same idea applies to Clipper City Co-op, essentially  year round, daily access to farm fresh foods, as well as all the full service goods you find at a conventional grocer.  Having your neighbors, show you the pride they have in providing high quality food at fair prices, as well as excellent customer service, that exceeds your expectations.  

The future really is in local foods, and we are excited to head up the movement in our home town.
 
 Clipper City Co-op is eager to bring healthy food choices to Manitowoc County from local producers, whenever possible.  Enthusasticly working towards the required number of member-owners, to open the doors to a beautiful, community owned, cooperative grocery in our lakeshore community.  

Support us, as we create community and bring farm fresh, local food to market.

 

BUILDING COMMUNITY

 

PAVING THE WAY

Developing Community

 Cooperative Principals

A co-op is much more than just about the food.  It is about growing community and opening up a space where we can get together and share experiences, information, and have local pride of ownership.  

Our vision for Clipper City Co-op involves food education, healthy cooking, knowing who your farmer, sharing skills, meeting others, community events and gatherings, and the list goes on.  Whatever your idea of our future food co-op is, we want to hear it.  We want to build a vision together so that it reflects our community, our talents and our vision.  We want to maximize on the diversity and uniqueness of individualality , to work as a resilient network of people coming together to improve our overall well-being.
 
Please feel free to reach out and tell us who you are and share your story about what a co-op means to you, so that we can get to know one another!

Enthusiastic Foodies Wanted!
 

Are you interested in making Manitowoc the best it can be?

A healthier, stronger community?
A place that sustains local economy?
A place that engages it's residents?
A place that builds a vision based on the people who live here?
 
Well, here is your chance to make that happen!  Here's your chance for change. 
 
 
 
 
 
We will have informational tables at many upcoming local events and summer farmers markets.  If you're interested in volunteering at an event, pleace click the volunteer button above and sign up to volunteer at an upcoming event, or farmers market this summer.
A food co-op looks and offers products like any other grocery store, but it is owned by members of the community. Because the co-op is owned by people who share your interest in fresh, local food and value a sustainable community, the co-op can source food locally and emphasize natural and organic, fresh local food.
 
In Manitowoc County, a group of individuals shared a vision for a grocery store that was highly involved with servicing the communities food needs and offering healthier choices.  They agreed that a cooperative business model made sense and began semi-monthly meetings to bring their idea to the community.  
 
 
Cooperatives operate according to seven basic principles.
 
  • Voluntary, Open Membership:
    Open to all without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.
     

  • Democratic Member Control:
    One member, one vote.     Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative.

 

  • Economic Participation: 
    The economic benefits of a cooperative operation are returned to the members, reinvested in the co-op, or used to provide member services.
     

  • Autonomy & Independence:  Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.
     

  • Education, Training & Information: Cooperatives provide education and training for members so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperation
     

  • Cooperation Among cooperatives: Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, regional, national and international structures.
     

  • Concern For The Community: 
    While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.

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