Co-operatives First is a business development organization funded in full by the Co-operative Retailing System and Federated Co-operatives Limited. Every day, we focus on promoting and supporting business development based on the co-operative business model. Our priority overall is increasing rural and Indigenous economic development across western Canada. Our job is to make sure community leaders understand the benefits and versatility of the co-operative business model, and group entrepreneurs have every available tool to make their venture a reality. We want rural and Indigenous communities to grow and thrive. We believe the co-operative business model has a role to play in supporting this growth.