Awesome Foundation 2025
https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/submissions/new?chapter=dc
Tell us about your awesome project! (2000 chars)
We want to build a new cooperative grocery store,store butin we'reDC. startingWe've small:started just a food co-op that'ssmall, serving our members out of a churchshared basementspace (Lutheranin Placea @ Vermont Avechurch, and Nare St NW). We currently share a fridge with the church, but this space is limited. If we wantlooking to serve more people, we're going to need more space.grow.
Groceries are getting more and more expensive,expensive. and whileWhile the Mid-Atlantic is able to grow everythinga welot of what need, for some reason that isn't where our food usually comes fromfrom. — whatWhat if we could stay local and eat what we grow? Is there enough money in the system to make it worth the farmers' time? We are strong in our conviction that by working directly with farmers,farmers in our region, and otherwise being intentional about sourcing from affordable and sustainable sellers for items that local folks can't grow, we can ultimately provide good, localgood food at a reasonable price that putkeeps more money in the pockets of both the farmerfarmers and theour consumer.community.
Currently, we pick up our foodproduce from thea farmers' market on Sundays and deliver itdistribute to our members atthe oursame meetingday thatdue evening.to the limited shared fridge space available to us. What if we could offer that same produce onall week and keep a different day? At that point, the numberstock of peoplefrozen products for members to buy? If we canwant provideto forserve ismore limitedpeople byand offer a variety of fresh food, we're going to need to expand and have our storageown space.
cold storage. We're on the path to havingmoving ainto physicalour own storefront, and thatany appliances or storage we acquire now will become ablewith us to use the same chest freezer and a chest refrigerator that we intend to purchase with this grant.space.
How will you use the money? (500 chars)
- 2 chest freezers (10 cu. ft. each) = $700
- LLC incorporation fees = $275
Tell us a little about yourself (500 chars)
Greens & Beans is a budding food co-op basedfounded in DC's Ward 2.2 in 2024. We are a worker-focused cooperative whose mission is to link DC residents with good, local food at a reasonable price that works for the producers and the members. We have 1520 active members, we're based out of local church,members and we're working with a nearby farm to source our produce. In the next year, we're looking to grow to 50 members, have a physical storefront, and work with multiple farmers to increase our variety.
Images of your project
How does your project *directly* benefit the city and citizens of Washington DC? Specifically: #1 -What DC Ward are you based in? #2 - What DC Ward(s) will your proposal serve?
We are based in Ward 2, but we welcome members from across the DMV.city. We directly benefit theour cityDC and citizensneighbors by providing local produce outside of standard farmers' market hours and pantry staples at alow lowerprices price.through We'rebulk ablepurchasing to get a lower price byand negotiating directly with and ordering directly from the farmers. The Dupont farmers' market takes a 20% cut of the farmers' revenue, so by ordering directly from the farmer, we are able to immediately secure a 20% discount. By ordering in bulk, we are able to negotiate for even lower prices.
When will your project take place, when do you need the money and how will you raise the rest of the money required for success?
The chest freezers will be put to use immediately so that we would be able to store our food (oursecurely foodand isn't guaranteed to be therefor longer periods of time than a day). We have begun advertising our food coop in local newsletters (like 730dc), so the newcurrent membersshared arefridge alreadyspace on their way.allows. We offer extra shopping hours on Wednesdays, but it's currently only dry goods; thesecold freezersstorage will immediately expand our offerings. We have recently expanded our advertising to popular local newsletters which is bringing an influx of new interested members, increasing our total funding through member dues and purchasing power.
WeOn plantop toof enterthat, intowe are pursuing an agreement with Emissary,a alocal cafe in Dupont, to useutilize one of their unusedvacant property on P St NWproperties as our storefront. The funding for rent will come from a revenue sharing agreementagreement. The purchased appliances would come with Emissary. We will be ableus to better serve members and non-members alike simply with the two freezers, even without the separate rentalthat space.
How did you hear about the Awesome Foundation and (optional) what are your social media accounts so we can help promote your awesome idea?
We heard about it from the Beloved Community Incubator.