CONNECT Center

Cooperative Network, Ownership, Enterprise, Capacity & Community Transformation Center

Draft Proposal Concept

Executive Summary

The Cooperative Network, Ownership, Enterprise, Capacity & Community Transformation (CONNECT) Center is proposed as a regional cooperative development center serving Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula.

The CONNECT Center will help rural communities transform infrastructure investments into sustainable economic opportunities through cooperative business development, technical assistance, workforce entrepreneurship, and community-owned enterprise creation.

Building upon the region’s investments in broadband, energy, workforce development, and digital equity, the CONNECT Center will provide the organizational capacity needed to ensure that the benefits of these investments remain within local communities. The Center will support the creation, expansion, and modernization of cooperatives and other member-owned enterprises that strengthen local economies, create jobs, and increase community resilience.

The CONNECT Center will work in close collaboration with the Cloverland Training & Technology Center, educational institutions, tribal governments, local governments, economic development organizations, and community partners throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

Need Statement

Rural communities across the Eastern Upper Peninsula face persistent challenges related to population decline, workforce shortages, limited access to business development resources, and the concentration of economic ownership outside the region.

At the same time, unprecedented investments in broadband infrastructure, energy systems, workforce development, and digital equity are creating new opportunities for economic growth.

While infrastructure and workforce investments are essential, communities also need organizational structures that allow residents, workers, businesses, and institutions to collectively own and benefit from these investments. Cooperative business models have historically played a vital role in rural America by enabling communities to overcome market barriers, pool resources, retain local wealth, and create sustainable economic opportunity.

The CONNECT Center will address this need by providing rural communities with the expertise, technical assistance, education, and organizational support required to develop successful cooperative enterprises and community-owned ventures.

Purpose

The purpose of the CONNECT Center is to strengthen rural prosperity by advancing cooperative and community-owned solutions in:

  • Broadband and telecommunications
  • Energy and utility services
  • Workforce and contractor cooperatives
  • Technology services
  • Housing and community development
  • Agriculture and food systems
  • Shared-service organizations
  • Community facilities and infrastructure
  • Tribal and community enterprise development

Goals

Goal 1: Build Rural Cooperative Capacity

Provide technical assistance, education, governance support, and business planning services to emerging and existing cooperatives throughout the region.

Goal 2: Create Pathways from Training to Ownership

Work with the Cloverland Training & Technology Center to help graduates and skilled workers transition from workforce training into entrepreneurship, cooperative ownership, and business formation.

Goal 3: Strengthen Community Wealth

Promote locally owned enterprises that retain revenue, create jobs, and build long-term economic resilience within rural communities.

Goal 4: Support Regional Collaboration

Assist local governments, tribes, educational institutions, utilities, and nonprofit organizations in developing cooperative approaches to shared challenges and opportunities.

Goal 5: Advance Digital and Economic Inclusion

Ensure underserved populations have access to the resources, training, and organizational support necessary to participate fully in the regional economy.

Proposed Services

Cooperative Development Services

  • Feasibility studies
  • Business planning
  • Governance development
  • Organizational design
  • Legal and financial referrals
  • Strategic planning

Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Support

  • Business incubation
  • Cooperative startup assistance
  • Market research
  • Leadership development
  • Succession planning

Education and Training

  • Cooperative leadership training
  • Board development
  • Financial literacy
  • Community engagement
  • Workforce entrepreneurship

Community Technical Assistance

  • Regional planning support
  • Shared-service development
  • Infrastructure collaboration
  • Community asset mapping
  • Grant development assistance

Strategic Alignment

The CONNECT Center complements and strengthens existing regional initiatives.

Cloverland Training & Technology Center

Develops the skilled workforce needed for energy, broadband, communications, and technology industries.

EUPConnect

Advances regional infrastructure, digital equity, community connectivity, and cross-sector collaboration.

CONNECT Center

Provides the ownership, governance, and enterprise-development capacity needed to transform workforce and infrastructure investments into lasting economic opportunity.

Together, these initiatives create a comprehensive rural development framework built around:

Connect Infrastructure → Develop Talent → Create Ownership → Build Community Wealth

Expected Outcomes

The CONNECT Center will work toward:

  • New cooperative and community-owned business formation
  • Expanded employment opportunities
  • Increased local ownership of critical infrastructure and services
  • Stronger rural and tribal economies
  • Enhanced workforce retention
  • Greater regional collaboration
  • Increased community capacity
  • Long-term economic resilience

Background Resources

USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grants Program

Current Funding Opportunity

Federal Notice

Closing Statement

The Rural Cooperative Development Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations that provide technical assistance and cooperative development services to improve economic conditions, create jobs, strengthen local ownership, and increase community prosperity in rural America.

The CONNECT Center will leverage this opportunity to help communities across Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula convert infrastructure investments, workforce development efforts, and regional partnerships into enduring community wealth and cooperative enterprise.