Senior Cooperative Housing
- Homestead Housing
This seniors' housing development organization was started mainly because ReaLife could not
keep up with the demand. Their goal is to sponsor four new senior's projects this year. Terry
McKinley is president.
5500 Cenex Drive, Station 210, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077.
612-451-5568
ReaLife Services
This senior housing developement organization has started over 10 ReaLife cooperatives since
1988, including Owatonna, Waseca, Mankato, St. Peter, Rochester, LeSueur, one in Nebraska
and two in Michigan. Richard Hanson is the CEO.
201 West Burnsville Parkway, Suite 141, Burnsville, MN 55337. 612-894-6511
Cooperative Schools
- Center for School Change
The Center has been active in developing charter schools in Minnesota and the use of the
cooperative model in these schools.
Doug Thomas, Outreach Coordinator, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55181. 612-625-9505
Overseas Development
- Agricultural Cooperative Development International
ACDI is an affiliate of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives with a mission to provide
assistance in training, planning operations and member involvement to agricultural
cooperatives.
ACDI, 50 F Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20001.
202-638-4661
Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Land O'Lakes has done extensive development work in many countries including Eastern Europe
and the newly independent states. Martha Cashman is vice-president of International
Development.
Land O'Lakes, International Development Division, Station 2010, P.O. Box 116, Minneapolis,
MN 55440.
612-481-2222
National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA)
NCBA is an umbrella trade association for both agriculture and consumer cooperatives. For over
75 years they have been active in cooperative international development. Cooperatve Business
International and the American Cooperative Enterprise Center are part of NCBA. Russ Notar
serves as CEO.
NCBA, 1401 New York Ave., NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C, 20005-2160. 202-638-6222
Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA)
VOCA in partnership with the U.S. State Department (USAID) recruits volunteers to provide
technical assistance to cooperatives in developing countries. Changes in Eastern Europe and the
former Soviet Union have opened a demand for VOCA programs. Donald Cohen is the
president.
VOCA, 50 F Street, NW, Suite 1075, Washington, D.C. 20001.
202-383-4961
Financial Assistance
- National Cooperative Bank
NCB is a congressionally-chartered entity. It and subsidiary companies provide a broad array of
financial services to the nation's cooperative business sector. Primary lines of business include
commercial lending, mortgage banking, capital markets and advisory services.
Midwest Office, Plaza VII, Suite 3032, 45 South 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402.
612-332-0056
North Country Development Fund
North Country Development Fund is a revolving loan fund to assist cooperatives. Margaret Lund
is manager.
North Country Development Fund, 400 19th Avenue, South, 2nd Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55454.
612-339-1553
Rural Finance Authority
Guaranteed loan programs for farmer-owned processsing plants were added to the portfolio of
this agency by the Minnesota Legislature in 1994. Gene Huguson is Commissioner of
Agriculture.
Rural Finance Authority, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 90 West Plato Boulevard, St.
Paul, MN 55107. 612-297-3557
St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives
The St. Paul Bank is a cooperative bank that has been active in assisting and financing New
Generation cooperatives. Dennis Johnson is president.
375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101. 612-282-8201
Information
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
The marketing division of the Department serves the agricultural community by identifying and
expanding markets and uses for Minnesota farm products. Staff members network with
associations of producers in pursuit of that goal. Ralph Groschen is director of the division.
90 West Plato Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55107.
612-297-4648
Minnesota Department of Trade & Economic Development
This department is a valuable resource to help in identifying sources of financing and other
start-up requirements.
121 East Seventh Place, St. Paul, MN 55101.
612-297-1291
Minnesota Rural Electric Association
MREA represents forty-seven distribution and seven generation and transmission cooperatives
which provide electric service to over 1.2 million people in Minnesota. Mark Glaess is the
manager.
11640 73rd Avenue, North, Maple Grove, MN 55369. 612-424-1020
The Cooperative Services Program
This division of the USDA's Rural Business and Cooperative Development Services helps rural
residents form new cooperative
businesses and improve the operations of existing cooperatives.
USDA/RBCDS Cooperative Services, AG Box 3255, Washgton, D.C. 20250-3255.
202-720-6483 for general information and 202-720-7558 for assistance requests. Fax
202-720-4641
Resources
- Ag Utilization Research Institute (AURI)
Executive Director: Pat Jensen
General Managers/AURI Regional Offices:
Brenda Finkenbinder, AURI, Northern Region, P.O. Box 599, Crookston, MN 56716.
218-281-7600
Duaine Flanders, AURI, Central Region, P.O. Box 188, Morris, MN 56267. 612-589-4532
Brad Mitteness, AURI, Southwest Region, c/o Southwest State University/ST 107, Marshall, MN
56258. 507-537-7440
Lisa Gjersvik, AURI, Southeast Region, P.O. Box 251, Waseca, MN 56093. 507-835-8990
Cooperative Development Center
Promotes and supports development of cooperative and rural economic development through
consultation, technical assistance, financing programs and education.
Bill Patrie, Economic Development Director
Jack Piela, Cooperative Development Specialist
P.O. Box 727, Mandan, ND 58554. 1-800-234-0518
Cooperative Development Services (CDS)
In 1992, the Wisconsin Cooperative Development Council and the North Country Development
Services merged to form CDS. Jim Arts is executive director.
30 West Mifflin Street, Suite 401, Madison, WE 53703.
Senechal, Jorgenson, Hale & Company
Offers business planning, technical assistance and education for
cooperatives.
Robert Ludwig, 11 Cherry Street, Danvers, MA 01923.
508-777-9199
Legal Assistance
- Doherty, Rumble & Butler
Brent Bostrom, Mark Hanson, Ralph Morris, Dan Mott, Dick Magnuson, 2800 Minnesota World
Trade Center, 30 East 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55101. 612-291-9333
Floyd Grabiel
308 Edina Executive Plaza, 5200 Wilson Road, Edina, MN 55424. 612-922-3353
Beren, Rodenberg & O'Connor
William T. O'Connor, 519 Center Street, New Ulm, MN 56073
Accounting
- Schuetzle, Carlson & Co.
William Day, Certified Public Accountants, P.O. Box 725, New Ulm, MN 56073. 507-354-3816
Paul Julin & Co.
Paul Julin, 5637 Brooklyn Blvd., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55429
Brady, Martz & Associates P.C.
P.O. Box 1076, Grand Forks, ND 58206. 701-775-4685
KPMG Peat Marwick
Jon McWilliams, 4200 Norwest Center, 905 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402. 612-341-2222
Olsen Thielen & Co., Ltd.
Dennis Carlson, 223 Little Canada Road, St. Paul, MN 55117.
612-483-4521
Technical Support
- Simplicity Software, Inc.
Software designed for cooperatives
Gary Bjorklund, 1017 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308. 612-762-2412
Minnesota Valley Testing Lab
Environmental testing
John Gray, 1126 North Front Street,
New Ulm, MN 56073
B.A. Leisch Associates
Dennis Spark, 13400 15th Ave, N., Minneapolis, MN 55441
DPRA
Compliance, wetlands, regulatory and reimbursement assistance
Don Granholm, Marty Bonnell, E1500, First National Bank Bldg., St. Paul, MN 55101
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