A food co-op store, like the one in Middlebury, is being investigated in Ticonderoga. The town has received a Quality Communities Planning Grant from the New York Department of State to study the feasibility of creating a food co-op in the community.
Ticonderoga — A food co-op store is being investigated in Ticonderoga.
The town has received a Quality Communities Planning Grant from the New York Department of State to study the feasibility of creating a food co-op in the community.
“We’re more apt to get a co-op type store than a chain grocery store,” Ti Supervisor Deb Malaney said. “This will allow us to see what our options are.”
The town is working with the PRIDE of Ticonderoga on the study.
A food cooperative or food co-op is a grocery store owned, organized and operated by members. Since decisions about how to run a cooperative are not made by outside shareholders, cooperatives often exhibit a high degree of social responsibility with an emphasis on local, natural foods.
“The town will work on this along with PRIDE,” Malaney said. “We’ve hired a firm that set up the Middlebury co-op and others.”
The town has contracted with CDS Consulting Co-op to assess the market and financial feasibility of a project in Ticonderoga.
“The market study portion was completed in October and next week Bill Gessner, the lead consultant from CDS will be presenting the financial pro forma to a small group,” said Sharon Reynolds, PRIDE executive director. “Once we have received the entire product and summary of their findings, we will be sharing it with everyone.
“There is a lot to learn about the business of a consumer owned co-op and our hope is that this information will spark not only interest in supporting a co-op, but finding someone to step forward and lead the effort,” she added. “In the short time I’ve been with this project I’ve found it’s a huge undertaking and requires an active and interested community to support it.”
Once the consultant has completed its work, a final report will be placed on the town website as well as the Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance and Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce websites.
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