Resources

Ministry of Agriculture and Food
PO Box 9120 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9E4
Ph: (250) 387-5121
Fax: (250) 387-1522
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca

With regional and district offices in Abbotsford, Cranbrook, Creston, Courtenay, Dawson Creek, Duncan, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Oliver, Prince George, Sidney, Smithers, Vernon and Williams Lake.

Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture - Co-operative Development Program
Fourth Floor, 1405 Douglas Street
PO Box 9800, Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9W1
Ph: (250) 387-5998
Toll Free: 1-800-988-8299
Fax (250) 356-8948.
http://www.co-op.sb.gov.bc.ca

Provides assistance and information to people interested in forming co-operatives in British Columbia.

Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
101 Diefenbaker Place
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B8
Ph: (306) 966-8509
Fax: (306) 966-8517
http://www.co-op.studies.usask.ca

The Centre for the Study of Co-operatives is a post-secondary teaching and research centre. The Centre offers university courses on co-operatives and undertakes and publishes research about co-operatives. It also maintains a resource centre of materials by and about co-operatives.

Funding Programs

Partners in Progress

This program is targeted to groups consisting of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or associations, who want to work together in partnership to benefit B.C.'s agri-business, fisheries and food sectors. The Partners in Progress program is made up of:

• Partners in Development: provides funding to enable team members to broaden their understanding of the issues and opportunities so they can clarify their common goal and develop a workable action plan; and
• Partners in Action: provides funding to help established groups who know what they want to do and have planned how to achieve their goal as a team to carry out projects that have the potential to benefit all the partners as well as the sector and the community. Funding is acquired through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and requires a minimum of 25% of total costs to be provided by the applicant group. Applications are available at all BCMAF district offices.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food
PO Box 9120, Station Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9B4
Contact Person: Sherry Greening
Ph: (250) 386-1833
Fax: (250) 953-5162
E-mail: sherry.greening@gems7.gov.bc.ca
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca

Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF)
The purpose of the IAF is to foster increased long-term growth, employment and competitiveness of B.C.'s agriculture and food industry. Strategic priorities of this program include: the increased potential of B.C. agriculture through competitiveness assessments, market research and analysis, new product development, and increased value-added processing. Funding is provided to legally recognized commercial and non-profit organizations, including co-operatives.

B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation
P.O. Box 8248
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3R9
Ph: (250) 356-1833
Fax: (250) 953-5162

Partners in Co-operatives (PIC) Fund
Provides financial assistance toward the incorporation of new co-operatives through the funding of activities such as member/board development, rule design, and community seminars. Typical funding is between $2,000 and $5,000 and is provided through the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture's Co-operative Development Program.

Co-operative Development Program
Sixth Floor, 1405 Douglas Street
P.O. Box 9805, Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9W1
Contact Person: Bhagwant Sandhu
Ph: (250) 387-5998
Fax: (250) 387-6055
Toll Free: 1-800-988-8299
http://www.co-op.sb.gov.bc.ca

Technology Assistance Program (TAP)
Provides financial assistance to small and medium sized B.C. companies undertaking research, product development or process improvement projects which are engineering or science oriented and which involve technology or research. Management consulting or market research projects are not eligible. Funding of up to $40,000 is available, with the amount of the contribution equal to 50% of the project costs. Funded by the Ministry of Employment and Investment.

Pace Technologies Inc.
c/o National Research Council - IRAP Wing
3250 East Mall
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1W5
Contact Person: Diana Nacer, TAP Coordinator
Ph: (604) 221-3109
Fax: (604) 221-3101
E-mail: diana.nacer@irap.nrc.ca

Market Assessment of Research and Technology (MART)
MART is intended to help B.C. companies determine the market potential of their discoveries and technological innovations. Funding is provided to hire consulting services to assess the market potential and develop a marketing strategy for a product or process. Private sector proponents are required to contribute 25% of external costs. The program is funded by the Information, Science and Technology Agency and the National Research Council, and is delivered by Pace Technologies Inc.

Pace Technologies Inc.
Suite 800 - 4710 Kingsway
Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4M2
Contact Person: Christopher Ryan
Ph: (604) 433-5979 or 1-888-311-PACE
Fax: (604) 438-6564
E-mail: ryan@bc.ctn.nrc.ca
http://www.scitech.gov.bc.ca/guide1/mart.htm

Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
The National Research Council delivers a number of financial assistance programs under the umbrella of the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) including financial assistance for small and medium-sized companies wishing to enhance their technological capability. Eligible activities include technical feasibility studies; small-scale research and development; external short-term or small-scale technical assistance. IRAP will cover up to 75% of eligible project costs, up to $15,000 per project and $25,000 per applicant per year.

IRAP -BC Regional Office
National Research Council
3250 East Mall
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1W5
Ph: (604) 221-3100
Fax: (604) 221-3101
http://bc.ctn.nrc.ca/irap/

Program for Export Market Development (PEMD)
PEMD provides contributions towards the costs incurred by companies in the development of export markets. Contributions are repayable based on incremental sales in specified markets. Funded by Industry Canada.

Industry Canada
International Trade Centre
2000-300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6E1
Contact Person: Jeanette Desmarais
Ph: (604) 666-3947 or 666-5000 or 666-0434
Fax: (604) 666-0954
E-mail: desmarais.jeanette@ic.gc.ca
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/english/trade/handboo...

References

Co-operative Development Guides
B.C. Business Co-operatives -A Start-up Guide. Province of British Columbia. (Pamphlet)

Factors Critical to the Success or Failure of Emerging Agricultural Cooperatives . R. Sexton and J. Iskow. Giannini Foundation Information Series No. 88-3. Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics, University of California. June 1988. (Book)

How to Start a Co-operative. Rapp, G. and G. Ely. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business/Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 7. Revised September 1996. (Booklet)

Incorporating A Co-operative. Province of British Columbia; Ministry of Small Business, Tourism, and Culture. (Pamphlet)

New Generation Co-operatives: For Agricultural Processing and Value-Added Projects , A Development Guide. Saskatchewan Economic Development. (Pamphlet)

Starting An Agricultural Marketing Cooperative. Center for Co-operatives, University of California, Davis. October 1994. (Booklet)

Steps to Starting a Marketing Co-op. Zimbelman, K., E. K. Coontz and A. Malan. Center for Cooperatives, University of California and the Northwest Cooperative Federation. 1996. (Booklet; also
available in Spanish)

Understanding Cooperatives: How to Start a Cooperative. Rapp, G. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural business/Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 45, Section 14. January 1995 . (Pamphlet)

Co-operative Finance

Co-operative Financing and Taxation. Rathbone, R. C. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business/Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 1, Section 9. Revised January 1995. (Booklet)

Equity Redemption and Member Equity Allocation Practices of Agricultural Cooperatives . Rathbone R. C. and R. A. Wissman. Agricultural Cooperative Service - Research Report 124. October 1993. (Booklet)

Financing Agricultural Co-operatives: An Overview. Harris, A. Canada/B.C. Farm Management Program and BCMAF. 1998. Available at BCMAF district offices. (Booklet)

Understanding Cooperatives: Financing Cooperatives. Rathbone, R. C. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business/Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 45, Section 7. January 1995. (Pamphlet)

What are Patronage Refunds? Frederick, D. A. and G. Ingalsbe, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 9. Reprinted June 1993. (Pamphlet)

Working with Financial Statements - Guide for Cooperative Members. Wissman, R. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business/Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 43. Revised May 1996. (Booklet)

Business Planning
Preparing a Business Plan: A Guide for Agricultural Producers.
A series of guides available for a wide range of commodities. Published by BCMAF as part of Planning for Profit. Available through BCMAF district offices. Copies can also be downloaded from the B.C. FBMI-net site at http://FBMInet.ca/bc. (Series of handbooks)

Rural Business Planner CD-ROM.
A flexible and easy to use software package consisting of a business plan outline, definitions, examples, and a series of checklists. Also includes a searchable resource library.
Available from: Canadian Farm Business Management Council. 75 Albert Street, Suite 1110, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5E7.
Toll Free: 1-888-232-3262.

New Generation Co-operatives

"New Generation Cooperatives and Cooperative Theory." Harris, A., B. Stefanson, and M. Fulton. Journal of Cooperation 11: 15-28. 1996. (Journal article)

New Generation Co-operatives: Revitalizing Rural Communities . B. Stefanson, M. Fulton and A. Harris. Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. (Booklet)

New Generation Co-operatives: Opportunities in Agricultural Processing . Centre for the Study of Co-operatives. 1997. (Video - 21 minutes)

Member / Director / Management Responsibilities

Appraising Manager Performance. Rapp, G. United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business/ Cooperative Service - Cooperative Information Report 136. September 1994. (Booklet)

"Conducting Effective Meetings" fact sheet prepared by the Co-operatives Directorate, Saskatchewan Economic and
Co-operative Development as part of Co-operatives in Saskatchewan: An Information Series.

Introduction to Directors' Liability and Financial Accountability in Farm Organizations . Stinson, L. R. Canada/B.C. Farm Business Management Program, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. (Handbook available through BCMAF district offices)

Legal Responsibilities of Directors and Officers in Canadian Co-operatives . Ish, D. and K. Ring. Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. December 1995. (Book) "The role of management behavior in agricultural cooperatives." Cook, M. Journal of Agricultural Cooperation 9: 42-58. 1994. (Journal Article)

Co-operatives - General

Agricultural Cooperatives As Effective Marketers of Value-Added Products . Hardesty, S. D. Centre for Co-operatives, University of California - Research Report No. 4. May 1992. (Booklet)

Analysis of Economic Motives for Cooperative Conversions to Corporations . Collins, R. A. Centre for Co-operatives, University of California - Research Report No. 1. May 1991. (Booklet)

Co-operatives in Saskatchewan - An Information Series. Co-operatives Directorate, Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development. (Series of factsheets)

Co-operative Organizations and Canadian Society: Popular Institutions and the Dilemmas of Change. Edited by Fulton, M. University of Toronto Press. Toronto. 1990. (Book)

Farmer Cooperative Theory: Recent Developments. Staatz, J. M. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Cooperative Service - Research Report 84. June 1989. (Book)

Make No Small Plans: A Cooperative Revival for Rural America. Egerstrom, L. Lone Oak Press, Ltd. Rochester, Minnesota. 1994. (Book)

Making Membership Meaningful: Participatory Democracy in Co-operatives. International Joint Project on Co-operative democracy. Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. 1995. (Book)

The Nature of Co-operation. Craig, J. G. Black Rose Books, Montreal. 1993. (Book)

Journal of Cooperatives. Produced by the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives . 50 F Street N.W.,
Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20001. (Journal)