Create Positive Change
Each time you shop at the co-op, you have a chance to directly support local community partners by donating your 10-cent reusable bag credits and rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar. It may only be a few cents or spare change, but your generosity makes a huge impact — to the tune of over $11,000 each month for our Positive Change recipients!
Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)
September’s Positive Change recipient is Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), whose mission is to create economic opportunity for the Latinx community by fostering entrepreneurship growth, workforce advancement and education opportunities, and by supporting business development as a vehicle for reducing social and economic disparities.
LEDC is located in the East Side of Saint Paul, just down the street from Mississippi Market’s East 7th location. The majority of clients are located in St. Paul and, in the last year, LEDC provided services and/or financial assistance to more than 350 clients in St. Paul alone. LEDC’s key programs are business development, agriculture, education & training, and lending.
LEDC works to advance social and racial justice by removing economic barriers impeding the stability, independence, and dignity of Latinx and immigrant communities in St. Paul. In addition, LEDC has a strong focus on supporting the local food system by investing in Latinx farmers in Minnesota.
Donations collected at the registers will help LEDC move from a reactionary model to a proactive model of providing economic development services to entrepreneurs and small businesses on the East Side of St. Paul.