The initial meeting for New Albany residents interested in starting a grocery co-op drew more than 50 people, inspiring organizers to continue researching the prospect of opening a market downtown.
Andy Mahler, board president of Lost River Market and Deli in Paoli, spoke to the crowd of New Albany residents Tuesday at the Carnegie Center for Art and History.
Guy Terrell, who is leading the grocery co-op push locally along with New Albany resident Dan Chandler, learned from Mahler it could take a few years to get a grocery co-op running.
It will also take investments of time and money from New Albany residents.
“Dan Chandler and I will meet next week after doing some more research, the next logical step is to decide on a mission statement, form a steering committee and things like that,” Terrell said.
He would like to schedule another meeting in early December if interest remains to start a co-op.
“I think that’ll be the crucial meeting, to truly see what kind of interest we’re going to have,” Terrell said.
Funding a market and financial feasibility study for a New Albany co-op will be an early step in the process, Chandler said.
“Grocery co-ops have thrived in cities much larger and cities much smaller than New Albany,” Chandler said. “We know a co-op is feasible — the question is how to best set it up.”
Chandler found a firm in California that specializes in analysis of grocery co-ops. Their study would cost about $9,000.
“It also will give us realistic targets for membership and capitalization,” Chandler said. “Grocery co-ops work best when members/owners can fulfill at least 90 percent of their grocery needs at the co-op.”
The emphasis of a New Albany co-op would be local produce and meats, Chandler said. Traditional items such as soap and condiments would also be available at the market.
“The goal is to be a full service grocery, not a specialty shop,” Chandler said.
Floyd County
New Albany working toward grocery co-op
Organizers hope for second meeting in December
- Floyd County
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Georgetown spelunker died of self-inflicted gunshot
Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said he agreed with the pathologist’s finding that Eve died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Department of Natural Resources.
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Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
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Students get time out for good behavior
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Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
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New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
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Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
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Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- More Floyd County Headlines
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