Prairie Food Co-op - the Final 4 Steps to Opening a Community-Owned Store

Many of our members are excited about the Prairie Food Co-op, soon to be opening in Lombard. The following is taken from an email from the Co-op board to store owners and supporters.

We are closer than ever to opening the doors of Prairie Food Co-op! After years of hard work, planning, and community support, we’re now in the final phase of bringing our store to life. We have just a few more moves to complete our goal.

1. Finalize $500K bank loans - Initially, we were assured of a $1M loan from co-op-focused lenders, similar to what other food co-ops have received. Unfortunately, many of these lenders have shifted away from supporting food co-ops. The good news is that we’ve recently negotiated a $250K loan each from Shared Capital and LEAF, but it’s contingent on us raising the additional $500K ourselves.

2. Secure additional $500K - PFC is working diligently to leave no stone unturned in seeking other sources of funding. We have raised over $4M thus far, so are confident we will raise this last $500K.

3. Hire our General Manager - While we are thankful for our Project Manager, Chris's guiding us through our construction phase, we are looking for our captain who will helm the HMS PFC after we are a fully functioning grocery store! If you know someone who you think could fill this role, check out our GM listing here.

4. Final preparations - We will be completing final construction checklists, and preparing to stock our shelves with the fresh, local, transparently- and sustainably-made products that will make PFC more than just a full-service grocery store.

These are key milestones in ensuring we open a well-stocked, financially strong, and community-focused grocery store this spring.

This is a pivotal moment for all of us. We’re so grateful for the dedication of our Owners who have brought us this far, and now you can play a DIRECT part in making this final push a success. See below for more details!

Make an Impact - Help Open OUR Store!

We’re so close to reaching our goal, but we need a little extra help in these final months before opening. Your support will ensure we launch strong, with maximum community enthusiasm, helping us meet our profit goals early and build a financial cushion. This will also prepare us for any unexpected challenges that many food co-ops face—challenges we’ve worked hard to anticipate and avoid.

We're asking YOU to consider helping us out for just a short amount of time to help us cross the finish line. Here's where we need the most help.

1. Administration - Things like stuffing envelopes, sending letters, etc.

2. Owner Engagement - This involves representing PFC by talking to our Owners and community

3. Event Planning - Helping plan or volunteer for events that attract our Owners and local community

If you're looking for an opportunity to help YOUR community while having a lot of fun and connecting with passionate people around you, THIS is your moment. Please step up by following the link and filling out the form below!

Help us reach the finish line.