More Than Just Holiday Shopping
Interested in saving time and supporting socially just causes while shopping for friends and loved ones? Look no further!
CCHD's Economic Development Program promotes justice, human dignity, and self-sufficiency by supporting job creation and the establishment of businesses that provide decent wages, distribute profits more equitably, and ensure an active role for low-income persons in the governance of businesses.
Economic Development grants support the start-up and operation of numerous businesses and income-generating projects. These projects offer everything from organic cheese produced by family farmers to soaps made by women learning self-sufficiency skills.
This holiday season, we would like to inform you about the important mission and fine products of just a few of these groups:
The Community First Fund
The Enterprising Kitchen
Family Farmer Cheese
The Jubilee Project
Made on the Rez
Mountain MicroEnterprise Fund
Native Harvest
New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund
Pastureland
Rural Coalition SuperMarket Project
Southwest Creations
Taos County Economic Development Corporation
Trillium Artisans
Woman Craft
Remember to order early, as inventories of small enterprises are sometimes hard to maintain during the busy holiday season!
The Community First Fund (www.commfirstfund.org) was created in 1992 to expand economic opportunities to low-income populations and underserved communities. Their mission is to create economic opportunities and stronger communities throughout central Pennsylvania with affordable loans, one-on-one business counseling and business training courses. Two examples of businesses they have supported follow:
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The Enterprising Kitchen, Inc. is a nonprofit business created to provide employment and life skills training to women who are working towards self-sufficiency and independence. The Enterprising Kitchen produces high quality products in an environment that enables women to maximize their individual potential and self-esteem.
Browse their selection of aromatic handmade soaps, bath salts, and spa products at www.theenterprisingkitchen.org. Click on "shop online" to view their online catalog.
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Family Farmer Cheese is a product of the Family Farm Defenders, a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to the creation of farmer controlled and consumer oriented food and fiber food production. Through direct sales of Family Farmer Cheese, the project gives farmers a fair price for their product, promotes hormone free cheese and encourages sustainable methods of farming and care for the animals in a humane way.
Purchase Family Farmer Cheese online at the Rural Coalition SuperMarket Project: www.supermarketcoop.com. Click on "Family Farm Defenders Cheese" under the "Holiday Gifts" section to view their products.
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The Jubilee Project (www.jubileeproject.holston.org) supports the creation of member-owned cooperatives of artisans. It established a shared-use commercial kitchen incubator to enable local farmers and entrepreneurs to make small-batch food products that are commercially sold. The Jubilee Project also organizes youth through programs in employment, entrepreneurship, recreation, education, and leadership development.
To purchase holiday gift baskets of artisan foods and personal care products, visit www.apspringcoop.com/05.giftbaskets.html
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Made on the Rez is a program of the Four Bands Community Fund and serves as a retail store, web site and business incubator to support Cheyenne River Indian Reservation artists, businesses, and entrepreneurs to market their services and products.
Purchase Native American jewelry, quilts, clothing, art and more at www.madeontherez.com
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Mountain Microenterprise Fund's mission is to create and sustain jobs by enabling low to moderate income people who are often considered "unbankable" by commercial banks to start or expand economically viable microbusinesses. Mountain Microenterprise Fund (www.mtnmicro.org) operates in eleven rural Appalachian counties in Western North Carolina that suffer high levels of poverty and isolation. The following are just a sample of the many successful businesses supported by the Mountain Enterprise Fund:
- Imladris Farms is a small, family-owned farm focusing on sustainable agriculture. Indulge in fresh shiitake mushrooms, jams, jellies, gift baskets and more at www.imladrisfarm.com.
- Jewelry by Michelle provides individually designed and handcrafted metal jewelry at www.jewelrybymichele.com
- Leapy Leigh offers colorful children’s play clothes with interactive features at www.leapyleigh.com
- Little Sprouts Natural Baby Products offers an array of cloth diapers and accessories, books, and natural skin care for mother and baby at www.littlesproutsdiapers.com.
- Photo Album Art provides custom-made photo albums and scrapbooks for every special occasion. Visit www.photoalbumart.com.
- Plum Orchard Forge is owned by David Brewin whose ornamental iron work has been described as Jewelry for the Home. Check out his handcrafted forged ironwork at www.plumorchardforge.com.
- Silver Rose Rhapsodies offers distinctive stained glass jewelry and decorative lead-free soldering on the base of wine and champagne glasses. Visit www.brwm.org/rhapsodies.
- Susan Marie Designs is owned by award-winning goldsmith Susan Marie Phipps. Order her one-of-a-kind jewelry at www.susanmphippsdesigns.com.
- Wrens Nest Beadery crafts custom made beaded and wire jewelry. Visit www.wrensnestbeadery.com.
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Native Harvest is a project of the White Earth Land Recovery Project. The mission of WELRP is to facilitate the recovery of the original land base of the White Earth Indian Reservation, while preserving and restoring traditional practices of sound land stewardship, language fluency, community development, and strengthening our spiritual and cultural heritage. Native Harvest markets locally grown foods and products.
Visit their online catalogue at www.nativeharvest.com. Click on “Native Harvest Online Store” to view everything from organic wild rice to maple syrup and Native American jewelry to birch bark baskets.
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The New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund (www.nmcdlf.org) provides loans, technical assistance, and financial literacy education to small businesses. Their goal is to build wealth in urban, rural, and reservation-based Native American communities by promoting the local control of resources, job creation, and income generation. One business supported by the NMCDLF is the Navajo Co-op:
- The Navajo Co-op represents Native American artists from three states. Half of the proceeds of each sale fund vital health, literacy, and economic development programs of The Gathering Place, a community-based nonprofit organization that serves the Navajo Nation. Purchase their southwestern hand-crafted jewelry, sculpture, and pottery at www.navajo-coop.org, click on the link at the top of the page to the Navajo Co-op Store.
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Pastureland dairy products are produced in southeast Minnesota from the milk of cows that spend their days grazing lush pastures. Environmental stewardship and healthy cows are fundamental to Pastureland farmers. Their pastures prevent erosion while providing a humane environment for cows and healthy habitat for wildlife. No antibiotics or hormones are used to enhance the growth or production of these dairy herds.
Purchase artisan butter and cheeses at www.pastureland.net
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Rural Coalition SuperMarket Project is a project of the Rural Coalition, an international alliance of regionally and culturally diverse organizations working to build a more just and sustainable food system. The SuperMarket Project is a collaborative effort that brings the products of small rural producers to a broader market through the internet.
Look at their selection of crafts, art, and healthy foods at www.supermarketcoop.com
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The Taos County Economic Development Corporation (www.laplaza.org/b_e/tcedc) promotes community development through family organizing. Founded in 1987, TCEDC builds upon the strengths and wisdom of land-based cultures that have survived and overcome adversity by retaining their beliefs and values. TCEDC operates a 24,000 square-foot business park that provides space for ten local businesses and a food center incubator, a licensed commercial kitchen and distribution facility. Businesses supported by the corporation include:
- Oatie Yum Yum cookie bars are all-natural treats made with no wheat, dairy, eggs, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, refined sugars, or artificial ingredients but still taste great! Try a few by placing an order at www.newmexicosown.com/detailed/88.html
- Gift Baskets of products produced at TEDC's food center incubator are available by calling (505) 758-8731. Please place orders 4 weeks prior to requested delivery date.
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Southwest Creations (www.southwestcreations.com) is a textile production facility that opened in 1994 to create good jobs for low-income women that support dignity and provide opportunities to grow. They provide affordable on-site child care, health information services, and adult education. Southwest Creations services the production needs of such companies as:
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Trillium Artisans’ primary goal is to help low-income artisans increase their craftbusiness income and build sustainable micro-enterprises. All products reflect the commitment to sustainability and are created with at least 50% recycled or reclaimed materials and priced to pay the artisan a living wage.
Order home décor, garden art, gift cards, hand bags, jewelry, gifts for your pets, and more at http://www.trilliumartisans.org.
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Woman Craft allows formerly homeless women an opportunity to earn income, gain work history, and learn valuable job skills by creating high quality, handmade, recycled papers and gifts. View their products online at www.womancraft.net.
Learn More about CCHD’s Economic Development Program
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