One Community Grocery Co-op locked down a $50,000 predevelopment funding agreement with the City of St. Petersburg. The money will support planning efforts for a community-owned grocery store in South St. Petersburg.<\/p>\n
The funds will cover market analyses, business modeling, site selection, training sessions, and expanded community engagement.<\/p>\n
“This agreement represents an investment not only in the development of a grocery store, but also in the capacity of South St. Petersburg residents to organize, learn, plan, and be an important part of our local food system,” said Erica “Zenzele” Hardison, Board President and Lead Steward of OCGC, according to I Love the Burg<\/a>. “There is significant work ahead of us, and this funding gives us additional resources to do that work thoughtfully and responsibly.”<\/p>\n Earlier this month, OCGC member-owners, board members, and local partners gathered at the headquarters in the Historic Deuces Business District. They celebrated and signed the agreement. The event recognized years of grassroots organizing that transformed the project from a vision into technical planning.<\/p>\n With predevelopment activities now underway, the co-op keeps inviting South St. Pete residents to join as member-owners and help shape the storefront and food programs.<\/p>\n Member-owners traveled to the Detroit area for a cooperative learning exchange. The trip provided useful information on local food systems, urban agriculture practices, and models of community-owned enterprises.<\/p>\n The co-op also launched another round of its Produce Box Program. This program connects community members with fresh produce and helps refine supplier logistics.<\/p>\n “We often say that we are building the store before we build the store,” Hardison said. “The brick-and-mortar grocery store is the long-term goal, but a community-owned grocery store requires more than a building. It requires informed and engaged member-owners, strong relationships with growers and partners, sound business planning, operating experience, and a community prepared to sustain what we build together.”<\/p>\n