We’re excited to announce that we’ve received a grant to help cover the costs of attending a 2017 conference. Please see the full text of our award letter below.

“On behalf of the Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference, I would like to congratulate you! Your co-op has been chosen to receive a grant award to assist in attendance costs for Up and Coming 2017. We are so looking forward to having you join us for the largest food co-op conference for start-ups in the nation. This year promises to be our best and largest yet.

These grants were made possible through the generosity of the Ralph K. Morris Foundation, the Howard Bowers Fund for Food Co-ops and FCI to assist startups with registration and travel costs for Up and Coming 2017. This was again a record year for grant requests and grant dollars. Grant requests for $78,017 from 47 start-up food co-ops were received, and we were able to fund 28 of those start-ups with a total of $13,500 in grants. Due to the ratio of requests to the amount of grant funds available this year, grants were made to the co-op rather than to a specific individual. Your grant award of $500 will be mailed to the address on your application to apply as your co-op sees fit for registration and/or travel costs to attend the conference.

Thank you for applying and please contact me if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee, WI in March!”