Wow! What a year it’s been for collaboration between local businesses and our Co-op! We are thrilled to be so far along in our work to bring a full-service, community-grown grocery store to the Cedar Valley. But we could not be where we are without the amazing support from so many businesses in the region.
From co-hosting our events to offering discounts AND providing giveaways to member-owners, businesses in this region show that when it comes to community, generosity knows no bounds. We want to publicly thank all businesses who have supported the Co-op over the years, whether through these ways or countless others.
While the following list is not complete, we hope it captures most of the businesses who have encouraged our efforts this past year. Please take a look, and when you are in one of these businesses in the future, thank them for their support!
1. Business Partners: Our business partner program includes more than 75 area businesses providing discounts and other deals to member-owners. Many of our member-owners tell us they have practically paid for their membership through these discounts.
2. Business Member-Owners: This year, we opened our member-owner options to businesses as well (an individual still needs to be listed as the member share holder). Thanks to the businesses who are supporting their community co-op in this way.
3. Member Share Gift Incentives and Event Giveaways: A variety of businesses have offered gift incentives for us to give to individuals who become member-owners of the Co-op. In addition, we have been able to offer door prizes at various events. Businesses helping in this way include: Arrow Acres Grassfed Beef, Ananda Studio, Basket of Daisies, Brass Tap, Blue Barn Barbeque, Cottonwood Canyon, Cedar Falls Community Theatre, Country View Dairy, Crawdaddy Outdoors, Driftless Style, Farm Shed, Fitkin Popcorn, freshii, Fosters Mattress, Frontier Co-op, Hatchlings and Hens, Hurts Donut, Lark Brewery, Miss Wonderful, Music Together, New Dawn Yoga, , Ninja U., Second State Brewing, Sidecar Coffee, Singlespeed Brewing, Solstice Farm, Transcend, Waterloo Community Playhouse, UNI Local Food Program, Vintage Iron, Whistling Thistle Farmstead, Wilbo, Verve, Xpressions, Yellow Table Farm, and Yoga with Yuko.
4. Co-hosting and Co-Sponsoring/Assisting with Events: With dozens of events occurring in 2019, we have been able to be good stewards of our limited budget through partnering with various businesses offering their space, items for events, and other services for reduced or no cost. These include: Ananda Studio, Big Woods Lake Recreation Area, Brass Tap, Budget Blinds, Cedar Falls Community Center, Cedar Falls Historical Society, Cedar Falls Public Library, Chocolaterie Stam, Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Dan Phillips Photography, Hearst Center for the Arts, Kaiser Farm Fresh, Kubo, La Calle, Lark Brewing, Millrace Co-Working Space. Second State Brewing, Sidecar Coffee Roasters, and Signs and Designs.