NEW GLOUCESTER — Cooperative Design Lab, a development course for worker, producer and hybrid cooperatives, will be offered early next year at the Wayfinder School in New Gloucester.

Cooperative Fermentation is offering the course to strengthen the cooperative economy in the region and to support the formation of co-ops in local farming and food production.

The course will be offered Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Feb. 28 and March 1, and March 21 and 22.

Participants should come to the Cooperative Design Lab if they want to start a cooperative, expand their group’s capacity, convert their business to a co-op, or help develop cooperatives in their community.

The course includes:

• Three in-person training weekends, webinars and homework;

• Connection to mentors, coaching and technical assistance;

• Course completion celebration with mentors, funders and community; and

• Large community house with on-site lodging at Wayfinder School.

People can apply online at: www.cooperativefermentation.org by Jan. 15, 2015. Those people registering by Dec. 15 will receive $100 off tuition.

The Cooperative Design Lab is organized by Cooperative Fermentation, the Resilience Hub and the Cooperative Development Institute with support from Crown of Maine Organic Cooperative, MOFGA, the Belfast Co-op, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, CEI, Maine Community Health Options, Cooperative Fund of New England and Cooperative Maine.

For more information contact Cooperative Fermentation Jonah Fertig at jonah@resiliencehub.org or call 207-615-9970.

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