Founded in 2016, Co-op Dayton creates cooperative businesses to meet community needs. Its flagship project, Gem City Market, is a community- and worker-owned grocery store serving West Dayton’s former food desert. The Market offers affordable, high-quality food and aims to be a community anchor.
Following its pilot phase, the Market launched a four-year plan to boost sales and engagement by focusing on operational efficiency, which helped it grow to 5,000 members and leverage local partnerships for sustained support. Funds will support efforts that, coupled with recent grassroots momentum and improved operations, will put Gem City Market on track for long-term viability.