Cooperatives: The Nuts & Bolts

This free training will cover a lot of material - from principles, key features, and benefits, to the actual steps necessary to form a coop. This two-part training session will also address technical issues including legal, governance, finance, and business/marketing considerations. Light refreshments will be provided.Despite a slight food/agriculture focus during Part One, anyone is welcome to attend. Details of the training program are below: PART ONE - COOPERATIVES BASICS (1.5 HOURS) Trainers will provide an overview of Coop Basics, with a focus on food and agricultural sectors. Participants will learn about cooperative principles, key features and benefits, and successful examples nationally and internationally. Break - networking and light refreshments PART TWO - THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF COOPERATIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY (1.5 HOURS) This segment will cover steps necessary to form a coop and technical issues including legal, governance, business/marketing, and finance considerations. CCNM will “workshop” any existing participants’ issues (assuming they’re already in a coop), and/or use real life examples to demonstrate the nuts and bolts of how coops work, develop, and sustain themselves. _This event is co-sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union , Farm to Table New Mexico, and is made possible by a grant from the New Mexico Economic Development Department. _