Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund

The Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) is a cooperative development fund based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NCDF acts as a financial intermediary, obtaining deposits and investments from cooperative enterprises and their supporters and providing loans and other assistance to cooperative businesses.^[1] NCDF issues loans to consumer and worker cooperatives in 11 states of the Upper Midwest. NCDF provides training, technical assistance, and advisory services to cooperatives.^[2] NCDF was started in 1978 by Minneapolis food cooperatives after they experienced difficulty obtaining loans from conventional lenders.

NCDF comprises three organizations:

• Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund is a cooperative development fund that makes loans to cooperative businesses.
• Northcountry Cooperative Foundation supports training and nonprofit housing development work.
• Northcountry Cooperative Federal Credit Union provides opportunities for individuals to invest in cooperation. Funds are made available for loan primarily to individuals seeking to purchase shares in cooperative housing projects.

References

1. ^ Linden Hills Co-op is moving. The Star Tribune. 30 Oct. 2009.
2. ^ Nurturing caregiver co-ops: NCDF helps finance critical need for in-home rural healthcare services. Rural Cooperatives. 1 Jan. 2007.

External links

• Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund website