MERC Co+op is not your traditional grocery store, and it is the only co-op grocery store in Northeast Kansas. What sets this co-op apart from others is its strong connection to the local community. MERC, which is a nickname coined from Community Mercantile, is an independent grocery store owned and operated by community members. The …

We’re excited to announce the NFL Foundation Grassroots Community Football Field Program Request for Proposals. The NFL Foundation and LISC provide non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields. Grants of up to $250,000 will be awarded for eligible capital improvement projects.

By David M. Greenberg and Patricia Voltolini

A new playbook from LISC and Next City offers a framework for paving equitable pathways to small business success, and lays out concrete strategies for supporting capital access, small business capacity, and commercial real estate. Two of its authors explain why that’s so important.