How We Get From Here to There
Here: A great space in downtown South Bend -123 N. Hill St.
There: The renovaiton of that space into a daily-open grocery store featuring locally produced and organic foods; and a weekly local farmers market in our parking lot - offering fresh locally produced foods and an opportunity for you to know your farmers.
How?? Ah yes, the almighty dollar. We like the idea of not being motivated by money - and local, healthy food IS why we are doing this. But the truth of the matter - Co-ops are businesses too. We have to raise the appropriate capital in order to open our store at 123 N. Hill St.
The primary method that we are using is Member-Owner Loans. If you are a Member-Owner - please provide a loan so that we can get closer to realizing our vision of a store in downtown South Bend. If you are not a Member-Ownwer, this is a great time to join.
But money is truly NOT everything.
We need people-power as well. While most of the renovation will be done by licenesed workers - there are other tasks that member-owners can help us get the store open.
We need help with:
- Fundraising
- More Members (learn how to become a Member-Owner)
- Wednesday market setup and operation (Volunteer)
- What is your skill/talent that you can help the Co-op grow? Let us Know.
$25,000 Grant - A big help
The Purple Porch Co-op, Michiana’s community-owned food cooperative is proud to announce that we have been awarded a $25,000 matching grant from Downtown South Bend, Inc. (DTSB) in order to improve the façade of our future food store at 123 N. Hill St. in the historic East Bank of Downtown South Bend.
Member-Owners: this is YOUR business that received the grant. The awarding was not because of the work of 1 or 2 people. It was awarded to the Co-op because of the incredible cooperative nature of our business and the show of support you have already demonstrated (and because it will be a great addition to downtown!).
The Exterior Enhancement Grant through DTSB is a competitive grant that encourages property/business owners to renovate or restore building facades and adjacent streetscapes in downtown South Bend for an overall improvement to the pedestrian landscape.
Talk about Community Support! We are honored to be the only recipient this year and will receive the full amount available. The façade project will take an otherwise drab building and create a welcoming urban space for retail food sales and community space centered on good local, organic and fair-trade food. 
