Canadian Worker Cooperative Federation

Co-operative Development Initiative
Call for proposals for Innovative Co-operative Projects
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil Canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité (CCCM) are very pleased to announce the renewal of a 4 year partnership agreement, the Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI), with the federal government's Co-operatives Secretariat. One major part of the CDI is the "Innovative Co-operative Projects" component. Through a selection process, we will support individuals or communities as they test new ways of using the co‑operative model, including creating co‑operatives to respond to identified needs.

The deadline for proposals is July 31, 2009 and an application form and full details are posted on the CCA web site.
- The project proposal can be for one or up to 4 years funding but each year of funding must be spent by March 31st of the year in question. For 2009-2010, because of the July 31st deadline date for proposals, we estimate you will have only 6-7 months in which to complete your project.

- The maximum amount will be $75,000 per year per project per year.

- The major policy priorities are:

Ø Agriculture including farmer-driven projects for value added agriculture and biofuels

Ø Rural/northern community development

Ø Innovative goods and services, including innovative uses of technology

Ø Capacity building and sustainability

Please check the website of Canadian Co-operative Association www.coopscanada.coop<http://www.coopscanada.coop> for the application form, or contact: Stéphane Audet at stephane.audet@coopscanada.coop for further information and the website of the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité website at http://www.ccc.coop or email Dominique Guénette at dominique@ccc.coop