What proportion of Goal 1 overall is complete at this point?
100%
What are the barriers and opportunities for completion that impacted goal 1 in the last month?
Corner Store Co-op has reached its goal to hire the Store Operations Project Manager, Jumaani Bates. Jumaani’s primary responsibility is to assess the co-ops current systems, develop a business plan and operating procedures, lead recruitment and training, develop staffing structures and other human resources protocols for the store and help assign work to the store operations team to execute. The team is excited and confident in Jumaani’s capacity to help lead this phase of work over the next 9 months.
What proportion of Goal 2 overall is complete at this point?
70%
What are the barriers and opportunities for completion that you impacted goal 2 in the last month?
Corner Store Co-op has implemented a temporary logo/brand on materials and updated the e-commerce website, including a logo obtained through an online logo tournament, in order to help external constituents more clearly distinguish between the store and the museum, a concern that was expressed in a user experience audit. User testing will continue to serve as a way for the team to assess the effectiveness of the brand identity expression on the website, and will inform the final branding. The Co-op participated in a pop-up for the NPHM’s fundraiser gala, serving as an opportunity for NPHM stakeholders to be (re)introduced to Corner Store Co-op and the kinds of products they can expect to be available in the store. The temporary logo/brand was on view at this event and the team raffled off hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise at the event.
What proportion of Goal 3 overall is complete at this point?
20%
What are the barriers and opportunities for completion that you impacted goal 3 in the last month?
The new store operations project manager has continued developing the project plan for this goal, which includes researching and developing the Corner Store Co-op’s business plan and financial structures. We are also continuing to work with Teresa Prim to research and reach out to sources that may be able to provide additional start-up capital to fund furnishings, inventory, and the store buildout. Mr. Bates has prepared the working group to meet with Shared Capital Cooperative to discuss a loan to potentially support financing for startup costs, including the buildout of the store. Submitting the loan application will likely occur in the coming months. The museum is also developing a lease agreement and fiscal sponsorship agreement, which will outline the in-kind, programmatic, and financial contributions that the museum will contribute to the store in this next phase.
Did you access Technical Assistance for your CWB project last month?
No
Which TA provider(s) did you work with within the Phase I CWEB grantees?
Which TA providers did you work with OUTSIDE of the Phase I CWEB grantees?
Did someone from your organization attend the Working Group this month?
Yes
How would you rate the usefulness of the working group to your project last month? (on a scale of 1-5)
Very useful
How would you rate the usefulness of the Working Group for building community?
Very useful
What have been the two most valuable contributions of the Working Group this month?
Please share any comments about the working group meetings.
How many TOTAL housing units did you preserve or create last month? (it is okay if the answer is zero)
0
How many TOTAL CWB businesses did you develop last month? (it is okay if the answer is zero)
0
Number of stakeholder meetings held related to your Pre-Development Project?
1
Number of community meetings attended last month related to your Pre-Development Project?
0
Service / Capacity
| Service | Capacity |
|---|---|
|
Accounting & Financial Management |
4 |
|
Advocacy |
4 |
|
Conflict Resolution |
4 |
|
Cooperative Development and Operations |
4 |
|
Education & Training |
4 |
|
Fundraising or Raising Capital |
3 some ability |
|
Governance / Legal |
4 |
|
Marketing & Communications |
4 |
|
Other |
N/A |
|
Project Management |
4 |
|
Real Estate Acquisition & Development |
5 extensive ability |
|
Relationship Building |
5 extensive ability |
|
Research |
3 some ability |
Other (please describe and include ranking)
What constraints or limitations with internal capacity is the organizarion experiencing related to its Pre-Development Project?
Now that the full team has been hired on to complete this project, including the Store Operations Project Manager, there is increased human capacity moving forward. Mr. Bates has helped the team organize around finalizing a draft of the store’s business plan and has helped the team prepare for a loan meeting with Shared Capital Cooperative to potentially support financing for startup costs, including the buildout of the store. The challenge in the next phase is related to increase financial capacity and to support the store in becoming more financially independent, while maintaining sustainability, effectiveness, and efficiency.
What opportunities, if any, did the organization take advantage of related to its Pre-Development Project?
Members of the Corner Store Co-op and NPHM teams have been attending CWB meetings for networking and collaboration purposes.
Please use this space to elaborate, contextualize, or add any additional info about the details submitted in your report:
