Continuum of living: How co-ops can save rural communities

For some the word cooperative might conjure images of hipster communes — but cooperatives provide services in a multitude of domains, including housing, food and utilities.

Unlike a traditional for-profit business, customers, employees or suppliers can buy into a cooperative and become shareholders, effectively owning the business.

In addition, co-ops are often run by a board of directors, who make decisions based on providing a service rather than turning a profit.

Thanks to organizations like the Montana Cooperative Development Center http://www.mcdc.coop/mcdc and the USDA’s Rural-Business Cooperative Service http://www.rd.usda.gov/about-rd/agencies/rural-business-cooperative-service , low-access communities like Turner are getting assistance in starting cooperatives in food and housing.

Annie Pentilla [email protected]

Full Story: http://mtstandard.com/business/continuum-of-living-how-co-ops-can-save-rural-communities/article_9ac8506d-d8d0-59a3-abfd-84f7636f80a3.html