Thank You, Community!
Monday, February 9th, 2020
This photo, from board member Andy Grant, really captures the energy and excitement that was in the room at our first Community Forum on January 29th! If you were unable to attend, but are curious to know what members and community members alike were reflecting on during the conversation, please follow this link to a PDF of the questions and comments we collected on the feedback cards that evening. These have also been posted in our Member Forum. Not a member yet? Not part of the Member Forum? Follow this link to learn about joining our Co-op, and, this link to sign up for the forum for more updates!
Let’s Grow Together!
The Franklin Community Co-op is excited to announce that as part of our ongoing expansion exploration process, we are currently engaged in negotiating a potential partnership with Kevin O’Neil to occupy the former Wilson’s department store space on the ground floor. As a community-owned and community-grown business, we appreciate the opportunity that this transition could present for preserving this landmark space as a flagship economic anchor for downtown Greenfield and all of Franklin County. As this process continues, we will offer numerous opportunities for member, staff, and community input, and look forward to open, interactive, and cooperative conversations. We recognize the incredible legacy of this unique downtown landmark, and look forward to exploring how we might best develop it to continue to reflect the incredible community that has supported both Wilson’s and the Franklin Community Co-op.
The Franklin Community Co-op is a community-owned market, supported by 4600 (and counting) member-owners, employing just under 100 staff members, and sourcing from over 200 local suppliers! Since 1977, we have been committed to a sustainable local economy–currently, 33.84% of all of our sales are local products! We are committed to keeping our community businesses thriving—today, tomorrow, and far into the future. We know that we’re stronger together!
“The FCC Board of Directors, representing the wishes of our member-owners, is committed to keeping the co-op in downtown Greenfield to serve the whole community. We’re excited about being in conversation with our respected downtown neighbor, and hopeful that the ongoing negotiations will result in an expanded Green Fields Market becoming part of the evolving legacy of that landmark building.”
George Toulumtzis, Board President
BOD@franklincommunity.coop
“As a community-owned market, we are committed to serving the whole community as we consider expansion. Our member-owners, our staff, our shoppers, our suppliers and our local farmers have and will continue to inform every step of this process as we work towards a shared vision for our growth as a cooperative. The co-op believes in the future of Greenfield, and we’re excited to build towards this goal together in the coming year.”
John Williams, General Manager
john.williams@franklincommunity.coop
We expect that as this process continues, we will have numerous opportunities for member, staff, and community input, and look forward to open, interactive, and cooperative conversations. Please mark your calendars for the first of these events on Wednesday, January 29th, at 5:30 to 7:30pm at St. James Episcopal Church, 8 Church Street, in Greenfield. We’ll be discussing:
- Our recent market study results
- The current state of our Co-op, and why we need to grow
- What growth means to our co-op
- The process ahead
- How you can participate!
Please visit this page regularly for continued updates and communications!
Are you a member, and looking for member-specific information about expansion and/or how to participate as a member-owner? Join the member forum!