By Helen Labun Jordan, Vermont Agricultural Development Coordinator

Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

 

Community Supported Agriculture has become a familiar part of Vermont’s economic landscape. Today, there are similar models emerging in other business fields--  “Community Supported Enterprises.” This concept responds to the idea that many businesses, especially in Vermont’s most rural areas, play an irreplaceable part in community life that isn’t captured in the daily sales transactions. Customers and community members are willing to honor that role through creative financial support that can take many forms.

 

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Examples of Innovative Community Supported Enterprises in Vermont

If you are involved with a community supported enterprise and would like to be included here, please send us an email with a brief description of your project and a link meg@ptvermont.org.  Thanks!

 

Community Supported Agriculture in Vermont

Community Supported Agriculture farms, or CSAs, offer prepaid subscriptions to the farm's produce for the season. Most CSAs offer shareholders a basket every week of the veggies and herbs that are in season on the farm. Shares vary from farm to farm, sometimes even including eggs, cheeses, flowers, and meat. Some CSAs even offer shares that go through the winter months. Becoming a member of a CSA allows you to know you’re eating fresh, local food and to meet the farm and people who grow your food! You also get the satisfaction of supporting local agriculture: the prepaid CSA arrangements are a source of financial security for Vermont’s farmer.  For a complete listing of CSA's in VT, visit the Natural Organic Farmer's Association (NOFA-VT) Website

http://www.nofavt.org/find-organic-food/csa-listing

History of CSAs from the Rodale Institute

 

The Bee's Knees, Morrisville, VT

Loyal customers saved a local restaurant from closure by loaning the owner $1,000 each, to be paid back in $90 restaurant coupons per quarter, because the local food, live music, and community atmosphere at the Bee's Knees was important to them -- a piece of their community worth investing in.

The Bee's Knees Website

National Public Radio Story, February 26, 2008

 

The Bobcat Cafe, Bristol, VT

An English-style pub in central Vermont gets $5,000 from each of 32 local investors who in turn get 25% of their dinners; in five years, the investors are paid back and the Bobcat cafe is an established fixture in Bristol.

The Bobcat Cafe on PTV Success Stories

The Bobcat Cafe Website

 

Claire's Restaurant, Hardwick, VT

A restaurant in a struggling downtown in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom gets off the ground with the help of 50 community members who invest $1,000 each and a chef who uses ingredients from area farms -- the end result is a truly local, truly great restaurant.

Vermont Public Radio Commentary, July 28, 2008

Times Argus Article, June 3, 2008

Touch the Soil, September/October 2008, Issue #22

 

The Basin Block, Vergennes, VT

A group of 28 local investors formed a limited liability corporation to renovate of a "bookend" building in a downtown National Register District for mixed retail, office and housing.

Otter Creek Investments Case Study on PTV Success Stories

Business People of Vermont, 2001

 

WBTN, Bennington, VT

When Southern Vermont College could no longer afford to operate the local radio station, a group of citizens and local non-profit groups combined forces and resources to purchase Bennington's radio station.
Read the story in the Rutland Herald

 

Mad River Glen Ski Area, Fayston, VT

In 1995, in the face of financial difficulties and the increasing consolidation and homogenization of ski areas in the northeast, Mad River Glen skiers came together to form the Mad River Glen Cooperative. Capital raised from the sale of shares at $2000 a piece have enabled the ski are to address mounting debt and badly needed capital improvements -- as well as increasing skier loyalty -- effectively ensuring a brighter future for Mad River Glen.

The Mad River Glen Website

 

Community Owned "Co-op" Grocery in Vermont
Vermont has more than a dozen established food market co-ops throughout the state.  For a complete listing, check out this site: http://www.vsjf.org/resources/documents/Vermonts_Coops.pdf

 

The Adamant Coop, Adamant, VT

A traditional general store, with community-owned shares similar to larger food coops, this oldest Coop in Vermont is anything but traditional -- a community hub, a mecca for baked goods, a post office, an art studio, a grocery store, and a gathering place for residents of this tiny town of 276.  Additional income is generated from the annual Black Fly Festival in May, an event that has become a "cult classic" in Central Vermont.

Adamant Coop Website

 

Putney Books, Putney, VT
As of September 2008, Putney Books is still in the planning stages.  For an introduction, read this letter from the owner.  To see how it works, read this summary of how the community investment piece works.  

 

 

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Community Supported Enterprises Outside of Vermont

Community Owned Department Stores
Residents in rural areas are banding together to start and own their own department stores.  The Powell Mercantile in Powell, Wyoming is one of the largest and most successful.

• Article from BNET about Community Owned Department Stores
• Article from the Home Town Advantage about Community Owned Department Stores

Established...

• The Powell Mercantile, Powell, WY
• Garnet Mercantile, Ely, NV
• Washakie Wear, Worland, WY
• Little Muddy Dry Goods Plentywood, MT

And in Progress...

• Saranac Lake Community Store, Saranac Lake, NY
• The Greenfield Mercantile, Greenfield, MA
• Stafford Outfitters, Stafford, CT

Community Supported Market, Boston, MA
Lionette's Market, Boston

Community Supported Kitchen, San Francisco, CA
http://www.sfuas.org/node/179
http://threestonehearth.com/

Community Owned Shops in England, Scotland and Wales -- there are over 170 of them!
http://www.virsa.org/index.cfm/villageshop/Directory.Home

Community Supported Fisheries, Maine and North Carolina
Read More...

Community Supported Pie, Raleigh/Durham, NC
http://www.piefantasy.com/