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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">In
August, the Moscow Food Co-op will move to a new location, the former Safeway
grocery store at Fifth and </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Washington</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> streets in </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Moscow</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> that most recently housed the Gart’s
sporting goods business, according to Co-op General Manager Kenna
Eaton.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The costs associated with the move, including major renovation of the
building, new equipment and products, are expected to total about $1 million,
Eaton said.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The financing will come
in the form of funds already saved by the Co-op ($100,000), a loan from a local
bank ($400,000), a loan from Clearwater Economic Development Assn ($150,000),
and loans from Co-op members ($350,000). <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Co-op board of directors has
signed a renewable 15-year lease with property owner Beth
Kenworthy.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The bank financing has been secured and the Co-op has begun a community
loan program to raise the $350,000 in loans from local individuals and
families.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Former Co-op general
manager MaryJo Knowles will coordinate the community loan program with the goal
of raising not only $350,000 in loans, but also donations and paid-in-full
memberships of approximately $15,000.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>A similar community loan program made the last Moscow Food Co-op move
possible, Knowles said.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the fall
of 1998, the Co-op raised $77,000 in loans and $6,000 in donations to move the
business to its existing location at </SPAN><st1:Street><st1:address><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">221 East Third
Street</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>All those loans were repaid in full.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Co-op’s annual sales were about
$1million in 1998.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Following the
move to the present location, annual sales increased to the present level of
about $3 million. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Moscow Food
Co-op now has approximately 3,000 members.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>For this move, loans will earn annual interest levels of four to six
percent, depending on the amount loaned.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>“The Co-op has a great track record of both growth and repaying these
member loans,” Knowles said.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“We
are all certain that this community will continue to support the Moscow Food
Co-op.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The Co-op has become an anchor store for downtown, bringing people to
downtown </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Moscow</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> and keeping the retail area vibrant and
alive.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A recent Latah Economic
Development Council survey that found that year-round the Co-op is the
number-one reason shoppers visit downtown </SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Moscow</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The Co-op has also built a network of local organic growers who provide
fresh produce and other products, sells quality deli and bakery foods made
on-site, and has an experienced staff, knowledgeable about natural
foods.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>The Co-op will begin demolition and renovation in February at the new
site at </SPAN><st1:Street><st1:address><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">105 East Fifth
Street</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>That building began as a Safeway in 1960 and then in 1978 became a
sporting goods store. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The building,
with 15,000 square feet, is twice the size of the Co-op’s current location.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">At
the new store, the Co-op is considering adding sales of fresh natural meats as
well as fresh-ground flour, expanding the Co-op Deli seating area with the
inclusion of a small stage for performances as well as expanded wall space for
art exhibits, and increasing the size of all sales departments.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>For more information about the loan program,
contact MaryJo Knowles at 882-0251 or </FONT><A
href="mailto:maryjoknowles@msn.com"><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>maryjoknowles@msn.com</FONT></SPAN></A><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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