Co-operative Development Initiative
The Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI) is a federally funded program to promote the development of new co-operatives across Canada. It is a national partnership between the Co-operatives Secretariat of the Government of Canada and the Canadian co-operative movement.
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil Canadien de al Cooperation (CCC) jointly deliver the services provided through the CDI, in collaboration with regional co-operative organizations like the B.C. Co-operative Association.
The CDI has two main components:
Advisory Services to provide expert assistance to groups who want to start new co-ops or who need help managing existing ones. BCCA co-ordinates these services in B.C.
Contact BCCA at coop_development
bcca.coop to arrange for a advisory session with a coop developer.
Innovation Co-operative Project grants (ICP) to study and demonstrate how co-ops can be used successfully in new and innovative ways, with emphasis on six federal priority areas:
- Adding value to agriculture
- Access to health and home care
- Economic development in rural, remote, or Northern communities
- Development of Aboriginal communities
Innovative Co-operative Projects will test and demonstrate innovative uses of the co-op model. Projects might be innovative by operating in an area new to co-ops or through innovative financing, delivery, or partnership arrangements. An existing co-op might see an opportunity to expand its role to take advantage of new opportunities or to adapt its operations to a new region.
Information about Innovation Co-operative Project Grants from CDI is available from the Canadian Co-operative Association's website: http://www.coopscanada.coop/en/coopdev/CDI
