Louisa Development Group Column

Angie Sanders, Executive Director

Week of January 21, 2008

Many of you may have read in recent newspaper articles about the meeting LDG organized for Morning Sun in regards to their grocery store on January 9th.

Three months ago, the Morning Sun Market went up for sale. The owner talked with Louisa County Extension Director Kathy Vance and myself about what options were out there to prevent its closing.

About that same time, Extension received a Horizons grant to work with Morning Sun on alleviating poverty. The most important category that Morning Sun residents targeted was having a healthy, vibrant downtown. If the local grocery store is lost, it can have a domino effect on Morning Sun – less people going to shop at the Bargain Barn, Yes Virginia and the couple other stores that remain in the downtown. If a community is really committed to revitalizing its downtown, it needs to focus on it as a priority. And if I know a community who can do this, it’s Morning Sun!

Extension contracted with LDG to research and provide options, primarily a grocery cooperative. Since then, LDG created a set of coop handouts that was presented at the meeting. Some pointers:

-- Typical coops are member-owned, member-controlled. It’s a democratic process. One member, one vote. Open to everyone.

-- The board of directors hires employees, including the manager. The membership votes on the board of directors.

-- Members pay a fee, but usually get a price break on the products.

-- Members may even volunteer at the store to get a further discount on groceries.

-- Members will receive a portion of the profit the store has hopefully made by year-end.

We can’t rule out the possibility that someone just might buy the market. But that hasn’t happened yet and if the residents of Morning Sun wait for that, they might just be waiting for the store to eventually close.

Another message that LDG and Extension have tried to get across through this process is that no matter who owns the Morning Sun Market – the current owner, a new owner, the development corporation, a coop – if people don’t shop there, it won’t stay open. The way any store is managed either invites shoppers or pushes them away. But unless a coop is formed, the management control is limited. Just as importantly as a possible change in store operations is a change in shopping behaviors. Small-town stores don’t stay in business if you don’t shop there.

The steering committee that formed after the meeting is setting up appointments with other Iowa small town grocery stores, while Extension and LDG continue to work together to facilitate the process. LDG is eager to work on such an important and tangible issue that faces not only Morning Sun, but small towns across the U.S.

In fact, most of the other cities in Louisa County would probably agree that having a thriving downtown is important to their community. Coops can come in many forms besides groceries – hardware stores, restaurants, laundromats, etc. Maybe your town is in need of a certain business. Maybe a group of people are committed to making it happen. A coop could be an option.

If you’d like to comment on this, or other projects LDG is working on, feel free to stop by during my office hours – Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-noon in Wapello, Wednesdays from 1-3 in Columbus Junction. Or call the office at 319-527-5182. LDG looks forward to your input!