Other Cooperatives You Can Support in Dunn County

Cooperative businesses can take many forms, and you may be owners of more co-ops than you know! In Dunn County, we have co-ops that offer a wide variety of services including banking, utilities, vehicle maintenance, and agriculture. Each year, we all team up for the Cooperative Breakfast at Dunn Energy, but since we can’t all gather in one space, learn about all of our great local cooperative businesses below. 

Royal Credit Union
Beginning in 1964 at Uniroyal Tire in Eau Claire, Royal Credit Union (RCU) was created by and for the employees and their families to offer a not-for-profit financial institution. After quick growth, membership spread into the greater community. Today, RCU has over 200,000 members in Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota and continues to grow. Their values include creating a positive impact in the lives of their members, staff, and communities while offering the best banking experience possible. 

Dunn Energy Cooperative
Following the Rural Electrification Administration becoming law in 1936, Dunn Energy Cooperative was formed. Today, they have 27 employees who serve over 10,000 accounts in Western Wisconsin. Their mission is that they are “dedicated to efficiently providing safe, reliable energy and superior service” which benefits the community as well as their members. They are a part of a larger cooperative known as Touchstone Energy, which connects energy co-ops across the country while keeping decision-making local. 

WESTconsin Credit Union
Founded in 1939 to serve the Menomonie agricultural community, WESTconsin Credit Union’s (WCU) mission has always been to help members achieve financial success with competitive rates and great service. Being member-owned allows them to operate at a lower cost while providing community services not found at for-profit institutions. WCU also provides free educational classes for youth and adults, free financial advisors, fully-operational high school credit union offices, and plenty of online resources.

Synergy Cooperative
The merging of Cedar Country Co-op, Lakeland Co-op, and United Ag Co-op in 2017 created Synergy Cooperative. Serving customers in Northwestern Wisconsin, Synergy offers agronomy, grain, feed, refined fuels, propane, convenience stores, tire and repair shops, hardware,  and farm equipment parts.

Countryside Cooperative
Created in 1998 when Durand Cooperative and Mondovi Co-op Equity Association consolidated, Countryside Cooperative exists to provide agricultural products and services in Western Wisconsin. Countryside Co-op offers propane, feed, equipment, fuel, and many other farming necessities. 

24-7 & West Wisconsin Telecom
In 1954, local farmers joined forces to create a telecommunications co-op in Western Wisconsin. Their focus is on creating a long-lasting fiber-optic network while also committing to the growth of their members and communities. West Wisconsin Telecom provides internet, phone, security, and video services.  

This article was originally published in the October/November 2020 issue of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Morsel. If you’d like to read more stories like this one and stay up to date on the latest co-op news and events, pick up a print copy in-store on your next grocery run or find more news on our website here.

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