The Montana Cooperative Development Center launched its first ever “Montana Cooperative Impact Week” last week in eastern Montana.
With the support from cooperative leaders of several eastern Montana businesses the impact week was made possible. Through this support the MCDC, the CHS Foundation and the Montana Council of Cooperatives were able to bring awareness to the benefits of cooperative businesses. The Montana Impact Week held their events in Glendive, Sidney, Circle and Baker.
A cooperative business is an organization that is controlled and owned by people who use their services, meaning its member owned.
“You pay an annual due with a membership or club, in a co-op you pay once for your equity, buy your share of stock and then you actually use the business. its not necessarily a dues or a contribution, you are using the business just like you would a regular investor owned company,” said Janice Brown MCDC executive director.
MCDC communications specialist Guy Gregory said, “It’s important because we want the college and high school students if they’re looking to go a certain route and they don’t know what they want to do, the local co-ops have jobs available. it could be a possible career path for people to consider, especially the youth of the area.”
Joining the Impact Week events were Montana’s first ever worker-owners of the Crucible Cooperative, Tyson Holland, Philip Munson, Dan McDonald and Jeff Robinson.
“A co-op and a special workers co-op really creates communities to come to bat together, it creates an opportunity for when communities seem to be distancing themselves, this model really creates that opportunity” said Robinson.
In regards as to why the members of Crucible decided to start their own co-op, Vice President Philip Munson explained, “Guys would suggest things. Like, we’re the guys on the floor doing the job and we would suggest to them this would be a good thing, a moneymaker or to change this or do that differently or maybe we could try this, and for the good portion of those things it was glazed eyes and “I am management the all powerful” (said in robot voice) it just was self evident that it was a destructive scenario for the business and for the people they’re supposed to be providing livelihood to.”
With its members having backgrounds in construction and fabrication, the Crucible co-op business is one that provides custom made furniture. They use wood and steel to create one of a kind pieces that reflect the groups creativity.
“It binds together the group that’s doing the work. instead of it being I’m not getting as much money as you are, you’re working more hours than me, it’s we are a team and there’s a give and take and a flow that naturally exists in workers in general,” said Crucible President Tyson Holland about the co-op.
Munson added, “The co-op gives you a framework to really foster people, foster their lives, their families and their aspirations”
For more information about Crucible, you can visit their website at www.crucible.coop, call their business at 406.925.1277 or email them at info@crucible.coop. If you’re looking for more information about Cooperative business or are interested in starting your own, you can contact their office by calling 406.727.1517 or visiting their website at www.mcdc.coop.
