Title
Resolution Authorizing a City Funded Challenge Grant of up to $250,000.00 in Matching funds to Renaissance Community Cooperative for Economic Development and Job Creation
Body
Department: CMO
Council District: 2
Public Hearing: April 7, 2015
Advertising Date/By: March 26, 2015
Contact 1 and Phone: Chris Wilson - Assistant City Manager, City of Greensboro 373-2002
Contact 2 and Phone: Kathi Dubel - Manager, Economic Development & Business Support 373-4579
PURPOSE:
Consider an Economic Development Challenge Grant to the Renaissance Community Cooperative to Create New Employment Opportunities in Northeast Greensboro.
BACKGROUND:
In 1998, the Winn-Dixie grocery store on Phillips Avenue in Northeast Greensboro closed. Efforts to attract a full service grocery to the location have not been successful. Over the last three years, a group of community residents, in collaboration with other groups, formed themselves into the Renaissance Coop Committee (RCC) and began educating themselves about the responsibilities and benefits of community-ownership of a grocery store.
The community-owned cooperative grocery store will address three documented needs of the northeast Greensboro community (approximate population 35,000) where it will be located: (1) Need for a full-service neighborhood grocery store that sells fresh food at affordable prices; (2) Need for greater economic opportunity (more and better jobs, plus wealth creation opportunities): and
(3) Need for better ways for the community to work together to solve its own problems and create the kind of community it wants. The Renaissance Community Cooperative (RCC) will meet these needs through a store that offers to its customers and the community:
- A wide range of healthy foods - including plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats - available at affordable prices right in the neighborhood
- An attractive, welcoming store
- Decent jobs with good pay and benef...
Click here for full text