Connecticut’s Credit Unions Celebrates Governor Lamont’s Recognition of Co-op Month

Connecticut’s Credit Unions joins the Neighboring Food Co-op Association in celebrating the contributions of co-operatives across the state

This October, co-operatives and credit unions throughout Connecticut and across the United States are celebrating Co-op Month, an annual observance that has highlighted the co-op business model nationally since 1964.

This year’s theme, “Built for this Moment,” highlights co-operatives as a proven way to do business while building resilient, sustainable, and inclusive communities.

In Connecticut, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) led the effort to secure official recognition of Co-op Month, sponsoring a proclamation from Governor Ned Lamont recognizing the contributions of co-operatives throughout the state.

In his proclamation, Governor Lamont noted that co-operatives “give people a real stake in their economic destiny and the future of their communities,” helping people work together to meet needs ranging from healthy food and employment to financial services, housing, utilities, health care, and insurance.

“Connecticut residents know the difference that co-ops make every day,” said Cassandra Campbell, Vice President of Fiddleheads Food Co-op in New London and President of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association. “We have two great food co-ops here in Connecticut that are locally owned by 12,400 members, generating nearly $15 million in revenue, and employing about 100 people.”

Campbell noted that Willimantic Food Co-op has been active for more than 50 years, while additional efforts are underway to develop new food co-ops in Connecticut, including Farmington River Food Co-op in New Hartford and North End Co-op Market in Waterbury.

The co-op movement in Connecticut extends well beyond food. The state is also home to housing co-ops, farmers participating in nationally recognized co-op brands such as Cabot Creamery, and credit unions. As member-owned financial co-operatives, credit unions serve individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout Connecticut.

“We are grateful to Governor Lamont for recognizing the important role co-operatives, including credit unions, play in strengthening Connecticut’s communities and economy,” said John Holt, Board Chair of Connecticut’s Credit Unions and CEO of Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union. “As financial co-operatives, credit unions are built on the principle of people helping people, and through our collaboration with the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, we are proud to demonstrate how co-operatives across sectors can work together to expand opportunities, strengthen communities, and improve the lives of those we serve.”

Governor Lamont’s proclamation recognizes co-ops as “user-owned, user-governed, and user-benefiting businesses” and notes that one out of every three people in the United States is a member of at least one co-op or credit union.

Throughout Co-op Month, Connecticut residents are encouraged to learn more about the co-op businesses and organizations serving their communities and the shared principles that distinguish the co-op model.

Learn more about Co-op Month and the Neighboring Food Co-op Association at nfca.coop/Co-opMonth. To learn more about Connecticut’s Credit Unions, visit ctcreditunions.org.