Grand Rapids Alliance of Cooperative Communities

Mission: The Grand Rapids Alliance of Cooperative Communities offers affordable, community housing in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. We foster a framework for creation and growth by connecting our members to each other and to the local community. Come grow with GRACC!

From www.ic.org/directory/james-russell-house/:

We provide cooperative communal housing in downtown Grand Rapids, with an emphasis on affordability and openness to alternative lifestyles. Shared work, group meals and innovation are hallmarks of this mode of intentional living. Through consensus-based decision making, the members establish systems to meet their basic needs collectively within each house and elect representatives to manage the affairs of the organization.

The initial group first formed as the Grand Rapids Dining Cooperative, which met for regular dinners in each other’s homes. Inspired by housing cooperatives in Austin, Ann Arbor and elsewhere, members of the dining coop leased the property at 535 Fulton St E in 2012, starting what would become the James Russell House.

This group of co-opers incorporated as the Grand Rapids Alliance of Cooperative Communities in 2012, and has since started cooperatives at three more locations. GRACC currently provides housing for approximately 50 individuals.

A service of the Data Commons Co-op. The project has been supported by Equal Exchange, the Cooperative Charitable Trust, the USDA, and many others - thank you! Tech volunteers over the years include: Benjamin Bradley with support from GAIA Host. Ben Mauer with support from Quilted. Paul Fitzpatrick. Ronin Tech Collective, Brattleboro Tech Collective, Sligo Computer Services. Jason Lemieux. Default map tiles courtesy of MapQuest. Default map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA.