LEAF has approved a loan to City Center Market (CCM), to finance the renovation of their food co-op.
Established almost 40 years ago in Cambridge, Minnesota, CCM moved to their current store in 2007, a region of the city classified as a food desert. The food co-op is co-owned by over 3,000 members, 70% of whom shop at the co-op at least quarterly. In 2016, CCM won the National Co-op Business Association’s Retailer of the Year award for their strong growth, locally-produced product offerings, and innovative approach to expanding business lines for food cooperatives.
LEAF’s loan will aid the renovation of the food co-op’s dining area including its popular coffee shop and kitchen. CCM is hoping that this will be the first step in a long-term plan that will eventually lead to the expansion of the store as a whole.