How We Co-Op In Montana

Food and Agriculture has always been one of the cornerstones of our work. From ranching to value-added ag, we use the cooperative model to encourage young producers to enter the industry, convert family-owned ranches and farms to cooperatives to preserve the land and engage future generations, and increase producers’ bargaining and purchasing power. In the past few years, MCDC has published several studies on food systems in rural and Tribal communities in the state of Montana to evaluate how we can best keep local food in their communities with the cooperative model. Cooperatives positively impact food security in the state by keeping rural grocery stores open, engaging Tribal communities in preserving traditional knowledge of food and lifeways, and supporting our rural producers. We also partner with food access state programs and nonprofits across Montana to continue to engage the network of dedicated people passionate about making sure every Montanan has access to nutritious, affordable food. 

In 2018, the Musselshell Rural Investment Cooperative became the first investment cooperative in Montana. As MCDC tackled this project, we learned important lessons about this innovative model that led to our team becoming the experts on investment cooperatives in MT. We now have several across the state. 

Investment cooperatives are community impact funds that bring community members and investors together to invest in projects that improve the livability and economic vitality of their area. Rural communities with less access to infrastructure and services easily found in urban areas particularly benefit from this model. We developed an Investment Cooperative Toolkit to show groups how they can use this model to meet their needs while preserving the culture of self-reliance our rural communities pride themselves on. 

Workforce issues affect all sectors and communities nationwide. To attract and retain employees, we build cooperatives that enhance the livability of rural areas. MCDC, in partnership with the Montana Council of Cooperatives, designed a Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Montana high school students. This program offers students the chance to work with local cooperatives, demonstrating the value of well-paying cooperative careers that keep them in their rural communities.

Additionally, MCDC provides a program and toolkit for employee-owned cooperative conversions. This initiative helps retain and attract employees in businesses like grocery stores, restaurants, and main street storefronts when owners retire. Our Multi-Stakeholder and Workforce Conversion Toolkit guides workers on achieving job security while ensuring rural businesses remain open and thriving.

  Housing is a critical issue across the state of Montana, especially when attracting and retaining a workforce. 

To create affordable housing, prevent employees from being priced out, and preserve our rural communities, MCDC works hard to build housing cooperatives.

Senior housing is also an area of great and growing concern across the state.

MCDC spent 2024 conducting a study on cooperative housing for seniors and rural communities and we are happy to be sharing that study!

 In 2021, MCDC partnered with Zero to Five Montana to spearhead the Montana Community Child Care Innovation Pilot. As a result of the pilot, we developed a deep knowledge of all childcare cooperative models, from parent-owned childcare centers to employee-owned investment cooperatives. We worked with different communities across the state, exploring these models and guiding them through the cooperative development process. Additionally, we developed a toolkit, which helps communities decide which cooperative model is right for them, what first steps to take, and how MCDC can help. 

While all states have different regulations, Montana has some of the more generous laws around co-ops in the country. This allows us to be innovative and creative in how we use the cooperative structure to serve our communities' needs.

We have been working across sectors and even creating new models of multi-stakeholder cooperatives to address needs in different communities.

If you have an idea and think you would like to explore the cooperative model for it, go through the resources on the "Our Process" page, or reach out to us!

MCDC is dedicated to providing high-quality technical assistance and economic development strategies to everyone, with specific programs for disadvantaged groups across Montana. 

Funded by USDA Rural Development’s Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant, we guide women- and Native-led projects through the cooperative development process, addressing needs specific to these groups, provide financial literacy services to rural women on investment, and are supporting an investment cooperative to increase access to capital for women business owners. 

Our Native Resources section provides resources to Native and reservation-based groups interested in the cooperative model, including a legal study examining how Tribal law affects the cooperative incorporation process, considerations for writing culturally relevant bylaws, and the pros and cons of the cooperative model relating to its background in Native economic history.

  As one of the cooperative principles, education is a key component of Montana cooperatives and MCDC’s work. To support our cooperatives and increase Montanans’ knowledge of cooperatives, we have developed several educational programs. 

Our curriculum reaches high school and college students. The program showcases not only the cooperative model, but also the impacts and history of cooperatives in the state of Montana. 

MCDC partnered with Montana Farmers Union to create a curriculum for their summer camp program, where campers learn about the model and design their own cooperatives as a final project. 

In 2023, MCDC hosted its first Internship Program, hiring students from MT Tribal Colleges to do outreach and build capacity. This led to our employee, Cheyenne, and the Listening Sessions and programs in 2024 to bring knowledge of the cooperative model back to Tribal communities. 

Lastly, we have created a series of coloring books featuring Legacy the Unicorn and her fantastical friends to teach young children about cooperatives and the importance of community.  The first coloring books are available and can be order here, with future coloring books in the works. 

Cooperative businesses are a different model than other types of businesses.
MCDC understand the value of opportunities to connect with others doing the same type of work and facing similar challenges. In 2024, we began our peer-to-peer sessions with our new and emerging cooperatives. These sessions provide a chance for these leaders to connect with each other, ask questions, and learn from the cumulative wisdom of the room. We also bring in experts from our vast network to provide targeted education and resources that serve this group during their early days of running their cooperatives. 

These sessions are available to our clients as an opportunity for continued support. 

If you are interested in joining this network and have not received information about them, reach out to our team via email.
Cheyenne@MCDC.coop