The Independent Retailers Shared Services Cooperative originated with a group of New England based independent businesses who believed collaboration with other independents to pursue new business opportunities would lead to improved sales and profitability.
United Charitable has been awarded a 2021 USDA Farm to School Turnkey Grant through its fiscally sponsored program, ReTreeUS. This grant will enable ReTreeUS to support 10 schools throughout the state of Maine with ReTreeUS’ Back to School Garden program. This program solves major issues
The IRSSC is extremely grateful to have been working with Gary Sukeforth, principal owner of The Common Market, located at 40 Burkett Road, Union, Maine, for well over 9 years. Gary’s been a long-term founding member of the IRSSC, serving as an adviser, and is
The IRSSC has been providing technical assistance to a group of farmers in Maine for over 32 months at no charge; the IRSSC has invested well over 475 hours into researching and mentoring our clients. Additionally we were successful in securing a large grant from
The IGC of Maine have a new video on TV and YouTube. You can watch it here, too. The organization is pleased to announce that they have a new web site as well: https://igcofmaine.com . IRSSC congratulates them on their efforts to increase awareness of
We foresee working with Bad Adz, Shophero, and locally owned businesses impacted by the pandemic in a coordinated public relations campaign to help increase the gross sales for those businesses impacted. Our project will help make jobs more secure and enhance food security and education
Promoting healthy gardening and landscaping practices to the consumers in Maine, while introducing the fall planting concept (especially for these difficult times following the Covid-19 pandemic). The Maine Landscape and Nursery Association (MELNA) will expand the market of horticulture specialty crops in Maine by increasing
In the midst of a global pandemic, the unsung heroes are grocery stores, suppliers, and foodbank workers too… They are on the front lines during the COVID-19 outbreak, making sure people have access to food and other products, sanitizing stores and warehouses around the clock.
Kudos to Oakland Parks and Recreation Director, Eric Seekins, and to Steve Phair, owner of Buddies Meats & Groceries and a founding IRSSC board member. Check out what they’re doing to help their community! Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels
We are accurately measuring our joint success and collaborations by the number of jobs created, number of employees affected by our work, and increased incomes/decreased expenses/strategic long-term investments as desirable partner outcomes from our projects. In 2018-2019 several member stores increased their sales by well
Garden and Orchard Planted at Indian Township School The planting season was full of highlights; to get a glimpse of some of the magic, take a look at the video from the Indian Township planting below. Planting fruit trees with students, creating an enduring legacy
