Cooperative Maine Business Alliance (CMBA) connects individuals, co-ops, and organizations through a supportive peer network, fostering collaboration, shared learning, and meaningful relationships that strengthen our collective cooperative impact.

CMBA offers workshops, trainings, opportunities for peer support and shared services. We also provide a platform for co-op advocacy and increased involvement in future development of the cooperative economy in Maine.

Member benefits extend to all staff persons, board members and volunteers within your organization.

Members of CMBA work together to:

Engage and train your workforce and membership
Strengthen your Operations and Management capacity
Raise your visibility
Connect to resources and partnerships that will help your cooperative thrive
Increase advocacy and support for co-ops

How to become a member of CMBA:

Fill out our online application.
All applications are reviewed and approved by CMBA’s Membership Committee and you will be contacted within a week.

Cost of Membership:

We offer five levels of membership. Our suggested level is $200 per year and we offer memberships for individuals for as low as $25. Membership contributions make it possible for CMBA to sustain our work and to build a co-op movement in Maine.

$25 Individuals
$50 Individuals and Small Co-ops and Organizations
$100 Small to medium Co-ops and Organizations
$150 Medium to Large Co-ops and Organizations
$200 Large Co-ops and Organizations

Requirements for membership:

All co-ops, individuals and organizations who are supportive of the cooperative development in Maine can apply.

Requirement for member co-ops:

Share cooperative principles
Democratically organized
Cooperative bylaws or operating agreements

Requirements for individuals as members:

Any individual who wants to join and supports co-ops is welcome to join

Requirements for organization and business members:

Any organizations or businesses that supports and engages with co-ops can become members (e.g. lenders, TA providers, accountants, lawyers, producers, suppliers)

Benefits of Membership

By becoming a member of CMBA, you’re supporting and strengthening Maine’s co-op ecosystem while gaining access to a range of benefits. Our current offerings are listed below:

Networking and Mentoring: CMBA facilitates peer-to-peer support and networking among co-op members and workers to strengthen co-op and business skills and grow the co-op economy in Maine.

Public Advocacy and Education: We advocate for wider recognition, understanding and support of the cooperative economy among the public, private and philanthropic sectors and with state and local government.

Conferences, Workshops and Trainings: We host the annual Principle 6 Conference which brings co-op together across the state to learn and network. We provide specialized training opportunities that support co-ops’ capacity to improve their operations, the quality of their member services and membership and community engagement. We also work to connect Cooperative Maine Business Alliance members to other organizations and services that can support their growth.

Trainings and workshops include (but are not limited to):

Financial Literacy
Governance and Board Development
Communication and Conflict Resolution
Management and Leadership Training
Member and Community Engagement
Advocacy for Co-ops
Understanding Co-op Law (Maine)
Marketing and Social Media
Equity and Inclusion in Co-ops

Marketing and Outreach: We work together to increase shared marketing and outreach for Maine cooperatives so that we can grow our operations and strengthen the co-op economy. We also create opportunities for co-ops to improve growth through co-op to co-op marketing.

Annual Marketing Opportunities for Co-op Members:

Shared Co-op Month advertising, marketing, and promotion
Promotion via CMBA's website and social media
Shared Common Ground Fair marketing
Shared Maine Multi-Publication marketing
Co-op to Co-op promotions
CMBA Co-op Ecosystem rack cards, postcard, etc.

Testimonials:

“The cooperative community in Maine is both tightly knit and beautifully diverse. We are lucky to have an organization such as the Cooperative Maine Business Alliance to pull us together and help us share the common bonds of our cooperative enterprises.” – Doug Johnson, Belfast Community Co-op, Belfast, ME

“Being a worker cooperative where we strive to strengthen each other, the support we receive through the Cooperative Maine Business Alliance is immensely helpful and appreciated. We look forward to reciprocating that support towards the other cooperatives of Maine through CMBA.” – Hans Breaux, Project CO+OP, Portland, ME

“There are so many cooperatives in Maine and so many talented people contributing to them. I know much more about this and have many more contacts thanks to the work of the Cooperative Maine Business Alliance.”- John Crane, Portland Food Co-op, Portland, ME

Become a Member