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McInnes Cooper helps Community Carrot Co-operative Limited open grocery store in North End Halifax
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December 5, 2014
Community Carrot Co-operative Limited (the “Carrot”) is a social enterprise born from grassroots efforts in the North End of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The neighborhood is largely populated by families living under the poverty line and had been without a local grocery store for more than 20 years. Many residents in the community have limited access to transportation, making the distance to the nearest grocery store a major impediment to getting affordable and fresh food. In an effort to improve access to produce, social entrepreneurs and concerned citizens developed a proposal for a co-operative grocery store in the heart of the community. The idea received a donation of $115,000 through the Aviva Canada Community Fund Contest. With that initial investment, a volunteer board began the process of establishing the co-op.
McInnes Cooper provided the Carrot with pro bono legal services that enabled this community venture to come to life. An associate at the firm’s Halifax office acted on behalf of the Carrot in several critical matters, including: the initial agreement with Aviva Canada, , the acquisition of several different sources of financing and the purchase of the building in which the Carrot now operates their grocery store. McInnes Cooper continues to work on behalf of the Carrot with respect to equipment leases, agreements with suppliers, employment contracts, and additional sources of financing. Since March 2013, McInnes Cooper lawyers have contributed more than 100 hours of pro bono time, with a fee equivalent of nearly $20,000 to the Carrot.
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