The Center for Community Ownership recently appeared on the Super Powers for Good podcast with Devin Thorpe, where we talked about cultivating local investment, community ownership, and more. Find the episode here.
Center for Community Ownership Spring Update
CCO clients, Pink Bench Distilling, successfully completed their investment crowdfunding raise on Crowdfund Montana. You can learn more about their work from articles in the Flathead Beacon and the Western News, and from an interview on the Capital Insights podcast.
Work continues in partnership with the Fairground Neighborhood Revitalization Organization and A.C.R.E.S. to create a community-owned grocery store in north St. Louis. We held a community kickoff event for the project on Earth Day, and you can see the highlight video here.
Invest York Road continues to make tremendous progress, as it moves towards finalizing it incorporation as a standalone non-profit organization and works to bring its first commercial property into community ownership in Baltimore.
The Center for Community Ownership ran a session at SuperCrowd23 where we talked about how to fix local and community investing and featured the Local Investing Action (LIA) Network.
For anyone in or around Montana, the Center for Community Ownership will be at the "Investing in Montana: Raising Capital & Finding Investment Opportunities" event in Bozeman on June 27th. More details here. Come and join us!
Community Development Session with Pink Bench Distilling
The Center for Community Ownership will be presenting with Pink Bench Distilling about community investment and community ownership on Mon., Apr. 17th, from noon - 1:00 PM MT.
Pink Bench is currently in the middle of an investment crowdfunding campaign and will share lessons they have learned about sourcing capital from their community.
See the below flyer for details, and stream on Zoom.
Announcing the Local Investing Action (LIA) Network
As part of the Center for Community Ownership’s efforts to catalyze local and community-focused investment, we are launching the Local Investing Action (LIA) Network in 2023 with a twelve-month cohort made up of two groups:
1) Individuals looking to increase their personal local investing activity
2) Community leaders interested in cultivating their local investment ecosystems
If either of those describes you, we would love to have you involved.
More details here.
Pink Bench Distilling Launches on Crowdfund Montana
We are proud to announce that Center for Community Ownership (CCO) client, Pink Bench Distilling, has launched its investment crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfund Montana.
They craft small-batch spirits with ingredients sourced from the farms and forests surrounding their home town of Troy, Montana, seated deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
The CCO is proud to support Pink Bench in its effort to build a business that supports transitional economic development in a boom-and-bust mountain town traditionally dependent on mining and logging. Their business model creates good-paying outdoor jobs while also supporting grizzly bear conservation.
Check out their recent interview on the New Angle podcast.
Interview With Community-Owned Soccer Club Minnesota Aurora FC
The Center for Community Ownership had the pleasure of sitting down with Wes Burdine, one of the co-founders of Minnesota Aurora FC, a community-owned women’s soccer team in the Twin Cities to talk about their vision, their successful inaugural year, the lessons they learned about investment crowdfunding, and the power of community-owned enterprises.
Listen to the interview here:
Local Investing in Montana Workshop Series (Oct. 4 - Nov. 1)
Sponsors:
Partners:
Native American Community Development Corporation Financial Service
Montana Dept of Commerce Office of Indian Country Economic Development (OICED)
Details:
The Center for Community Ownership is proud to once again be hosting acclaimed economist, author and attorney, Michael Shuman - author of Put Your Money Where Your Life Is.
Michael’s four-part online Local Investing in Montana Workshop Series will teach Montanans how we can use our power as local investors to transform economies across the state.
Register now at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-investing-in-montana-workshop-series-oct-4-nov-1-tickets-406961170817
Americans now have $56 trillion in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, pension funds, and insurances funds—nearly all of it invested in global corporations. If Montanans could shift even a small amount of that financial capital from Wall Street to Main Street, our communities would truly flourish.
This workshop series is designed to help you personally and your community together develop practical local investment strategies to boost our local economies. It is a deep dive into topics that will empower attendees to take real local investment action in their communities.
Together we will learn how grassroots investors can invest locally, how businesses can find local capital, and the ways that policymakers can use their tools to facilitate local investment.
We will meet four times, covering different material each week:
Tues., Oct. 4: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MT
Tues., Oct. 11: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MT
Tues., Oct. 18: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MT
(There will be a special showcase of Montana local investment projects on Mon., Oct. 24 - Details will be shared after registration)
Tues., Nov. 1: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM MT
Workshops will address the following topics:
For anyone interested in local investment:
Why are local businesses so important for community development?
What are the returns and risks of local investments?
What are the most promising kinds of local investments?
For local investors:
How can I find local investments?
How should I evaluate local investments?
How can I use tax-deferred pension savings for local investments?
What are the rules governing self-directed IRAs and solo 401ks?
Why are local banks and credit unions important for local investors?
For local businesses looking for local investment:
What are the basics of securities law?
What tools and resources are available to help me prepare my business for financing?
How can my business raise funds from accredited investors?
How can my business raise funds from grassroots investors?
For policymakers:
What kinds of community investment funds might facilitate local investment?
What kinds of state and local policies can facilitate local investment?
Registration:
Register now at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-investing-in-montana-workshop-series-oct-4-nov-1-tickets-406961170817
No one will be turned away from this workshop because of the cost! The suggested registration fee is $99 total for all four 90-minute workshops, but this registration is set up on a sliding scale. The most important thing to us is that you attend if you are interested, so please just pay what you can.
If you are not yet ready to commit to the full workshop series, there will be a free introductory webinar on Tue., Sept. 27th at 11:30 AM MT that will provide an overview of the content that will be covered in the workshop series. Details and registration for the introductory webinar here.
All questions can be sent to The Center for Community Ownership at: www.centerforcommunityownership.org/home/#contact
The Center for Community Ownership + Conscious Capitalism
Conscious Capitalism will be hosting Center for Community Ownership Director, Andrew Connor, on June 21st at 2:15 PM ET / 11:15 AM PT to talk about "Shared Wealth Through Community Ownership".
Go here for details and registration.
Local Investing 101 series with Michael Shuman - Tips & Resources for You & Your Local Community
Curious to learn more about how grassroots investors can invest locally, businesses can leverage local capital, and policymakers can facilitate local investment?
Join this 4-session virtual workshop designed to help grassroots investors and community groups develop practical local investment strategies.
The workshop will be held on Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20, and 27, 5 - 6:30 pm PST.
This series is oriented toward Washington State investors, but the information is universal and the sessions are open to everyone.
Friend of the CCO, Michael Shuman, will lead this training. He is the author of The Local Economy Solution and Local Dollars, Local Sense.
Register for the event here.
Extended Interview with the Center for Community Ownership and Pacific Northwest Rural Broadband Alliance on Talk Back
Andrew Connor, director of the Center for Community Ownership and Elvis Nuno, president of the Pacific Northwest Rural Broadband Alliance had a great interview with Peter and Nick from Talk Back. Listen to the full interview below.
Interview starts at 27:10
The Rural Broadband Crisis and How One of Our Clients is Fixing It
Join CCO client, The Pacific Northwest Rural Broadband Alliance (PNWRBA), on February 21st at 7:30 MT (6:30PM PT) for an update on the state of broadband in rural America and how they are using community power and cutting edge technology to fix it.
During this event the PNWRBA will dive into the problem, share its model, and unveil the exciting plans and projects they have slated for 2022. Most importantly, they will also discuss all the ways anyone can get involved and support them in bringing high-speed internet to the communities that are most in need.
RSVP and register for the event here.
Center for Community Ownership Clients to Present in Changemaker Showcase
Several of the Center for Community Ownership’s clients will be presenting their work in the Changemaker Showcase, which is highlighting the work of innovative businesses and entrepreneurs.
This virtual event is being presented by Jenny Kassan Consulting and is open to the public. Register here.
Center for Community Ownership & Crowdfund Montana featured on "A New Angle" Podcast
The Center for Community Ownership’s director, Andrew Connor, was featured on the podcast, A New Angle. Andrew and host, Justin Angle, talked about community-owned business models, investment crowdfunding, and the CCO’s support of Montana’s dedicated funding platform, Crowdfund Montana. Listen to the episode here.
Center for Community Ownership Joining PNWRBA Community Call - Feb. 7th @ 6:00 PM MT
The Center for Community Ownership (CCO) will be joining the Pacific Northwest Rural Broadband Alliance’s (PNWRBA) upcoming community call to talk about the power and potential of community investment.
During this event - which starts at 6:00 PM MT on Monday, Feb. 7th - the PNWRBA will be share its organization’s mission and model, review its first year of operations, and unveil plans and projects slated for 2022.
The CCO will share information about investment crowdfunding, specifically with regards to PNWRBA’s current raise posted on Crowdfund Montana.
This virtual meeting is open to all: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86084651706?pwd=NWE2N2FtMGhubXdOVU4rNDJPWTBVUT09
Local Investing in Montana Webinar Recording
The Center for Community Ownership recently hosted author, economist, attorney, and local economy expert, Michael Shuman, for a webinar on Local Investing in Montana.
The video recording for that session is now available:
Center for Community Ownership Presents Webinar on Local Investing in Montana - Noon-1:30 PM MT on Tue., Dec. 14
As Montana struggles to reboot its economy from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is stronger statewide appreciation that local businesses and local economies matter. Entrepreneurs shape the identity of a place. And when disaster strikes, our local businesses are the ones we rely on.
Having seen small businesses struggle over the course of the pandemic, many Montanans wonder what they can do to help their communities thrive, keep their downtowns vibrant, and strengthen their local economies.
The answer is simple: Invest in Montana, not Wall Street.
But how?
Nationally acclaimed local investing expert, Michael Shuman, will answer that question and others in a free one-hour educational webinar on "Local Investing in Montana". Shuman will share a range of strategies for how all Montanans - regardless of their wealth or income levels - can be local investors in business, real estate, energy projects, their community, their neighbors and themselves.
Shuman is one of the pioneers of investment crowdfunding and also authored the recent book, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is. In this free webinar he will review why local investment matters, what kinds of local investments to look for, how to find and evaluate them, and where to find the financial resources to support them.
"Having worked with a half dozen communities in Montana,” Shuman says, “I’m impressed with residents’ love of their community businesses and their capacity to innovate. This event will give attendees the tools they need to translate that passion in much needed capital for struggling local businesses.”
"Local Investing in Montana" will take place online from Noon-1:30 PM MT on Tuesday, December 14th. This webinar is provided free of charge and attendees can register here: https://forms.gle/JXHdb3oadD5VGUZq5
Michael H. Shuman is an economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, and a leading visionary on community economics. He is an Adjunct Professor at Bard Business School in New York City. He is also a Senior Researcher for Council Fire, where he performs economic-development analyses for states, local governments, and businesses around North America. He is credited with being one of the architects of the 2012 JOBS Act and dozens of state laws overhauling securities regulation of crowdfunding. He has authored, coauthored, or edited ten books. His two most recent books are Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: How to Invest Locally Using Solo 401ks and Self-Directed IRAs and The Local Economy Solution: How Innovative, Self-Financing Pollinator Enterprises Can Grow Jobs and Prosperity and Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street. One of his previous books, The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition (Berrett-Koehler, 2006), received as bronze prize from the Independent Publishers Association for best business book of 2006.
Pacific Northwest Rural Broadband Alliance offering is live on Crowdfund Montana
The Center for Community Ownership is working with the Missoula-based Pacific Northwest Rural Broadband Alliance (PNWRBA) to raise investment funds on Crowdfund Montana.
PNWRBA has a mission to bring high-speed broadband internet to under-served communities across the region, and their first several projects are based in Montana.
They do great work, and their offering is live now. Check it out!
Crowdfund Montana Has Launched!
The Center for Community Ownership is proud to be supporting the launch of Crowdfund Montana, a new investment crowdfunding platform that provides a place where Montana-based businesses and organizations can raise investment capital from anyone and everyone.
The platform is live and the first offering is ready for investment. Check it out!
Read more