News and Updates
Old News
2/14/23 - Today, we submitted testimony to the State of Maine's Housing Committee on the subject of cooperative housing in Maine. Testimony available to download here (PDF).
5/27/21 - Raise-Op members played important leadership roles in our community's participation in the development of a neighborhood transformation plan that helped Lewiston Housing and the City of Lewiston successfully obtain a $30 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. This effort will create up to 200 units of community-controlled housing, new public recreation opportunities, and expanded facilities to support community healthcare, food, and childcare needs.
1/29/21 - Raise-Op is pleased to announce our partnership with Hebert Construction to provide construction management services for the development of 198 Blake Street. Hebert has a strong reputation for taking good care of their workers, and also deep roots and history both living and working in the Tree Street neighborhood. We are very proud to be working with them on this project.
12/23/20 - We are fundraising to develop a new sustainable building designed by our residents. We want to share the design with our community to promote the creation of more sustainable and affordable homes. Learn more and support us here.
10/22/20 - We were honored to receive the "Demonstrative Commitment to Smart Growth" award from Grow Smart Maine .
6/4/2020 - Raise-Op issues statement regarding the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
On February 1st, 2018, we adopted our new 5-Year Strategic Growth Plan, which is available here to download (pdf).
January 25, 2018, the Raise-Op presents at a panel discussion on "Innovations in Housing " at the Lewiston Public Library. Sun Journal Coverage Here.
December 31, 2017, We completed renovations at 141 and 145 Pierce Street in Lewiston, and our properties were fully occupied at the end of 2017.
Sept 4, 2017 , the Bollard features an extensive article on cooperative housing in Maine, "A Land Without Lords."
March 30th, 2016, We are pleased to announce that we have purchased our third building, located on Pierce Street in downtown Lewiston. It is almost directly between The Root Cellar and the site where the St. Laurent development is beginning new construction! The property includes 9 residential apartments. We are currently planning improvements to the property.
January 1st, 2016, we were able to raise 112% of our online fundraising goal! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed and who helped share the fundraiser with friends.
On October 12th, we held a Thank You Celebration for everyone who helped us to redevelop 79 Maple Street, and also to celebrate national coop month. See news coverage here: Channel 6, Channel 13, Channel 8, Sun Journal, full press event..
On September 24th we participated in a Cooperatives and Community Wealth Webinar hosted by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.
On August 1st we launched our new video and fundraising page on Razoo!
On Saturday, April 25th, the Raise-Op presented at Principle Six Conference hosted by Cooperative Maine, at the Viles Arboretum.
On Saturday, February 7th, the Lerner Foundation confirmed that we will receive a grant for $15,000 to incorporate civic engagement practices into the process of starting and operating the Raise-Op. We are very grateful to the Lerner Foundation for recognizing how our project is one that aims to develop the leadership abilities of our participants.
On Thursday, January 15th , Dig Portland published a great article about cooperative housing efforts in Lewiston as well as Portland.
On Friday, January 2nd, the Lewiston Sun Journal published an excellent article about our project. Read it here.
2/14/23 - Today, we submitted testimony to the State of Maine's Housing Committee on the subject of cooperative housing in Maine. Testimony available to download here (PDF).
5/27/21 - Raise-Op members played important leadership roles in our community's participation in the development of a neighborhood transformation plan that helped Lewiston Housing and the City of Lewiston successfully obtain a $30 million Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. This effort will create up to 200 units of community-controlled housing, new public recreation opportunities, and expanded facilities to support community healthcare, food, and childcare needs.
1/29/21 - Raise-Op is pleased to announce our partnership with Hebert Construction to provide construction management services for the development of 198 Blake Street. Hebert has a strong reputation for taking good care of their workers, and also deep roots and history both living and working in the Tree Street neighborhood. We are very proud to be working with them on this project.
12/23/20 - We are fundraising to develop a new sustainable building designed by our residents. We want to share the design with our community to promote the creation of more sustainable and affordable homes. Learn more and support us here.
10/22/20 - We were honored to receive the "Demonstrative Commitment to Smart Growth" award from Grow Smart Maine .
6/4/2020 - Raise-Op issues statement regarding the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
On February 1st, 2018, we adopted our new 5-Year Strategic Growth Plan, which is available here to download (pdf).
January 25, 2018, the Raise-Op presents at a panel discussion on "Innovations in Housing " at the Lewiston Public Library. Sun Journal Coverage Here.
December 31, 2017, We completed renovations at 141 and 145 Pierce Street in Lewiston, and our properties were fully occupied at the end of 2017.
Sept 4, 2017 , the Bollard features an extensive article on cooperative housing in Maine, "A Land Without Lords."
March 30th, 2016, We are pleased to announce that we have purchased our third building, located on Pierce Street in downtown Lewiston. It is almost directly between The Root Cellar and the site where the St. Laurent development is beginning new construction! The property includes 9 residential apartments. We are currently planning improvements to the property.
January 1st, 2016, we were able to raise 112% of our online fundraising goal! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed and who helped share the fundraiser with friends.
On October 12th, we held a Thank You Celebration for everyone who helped us to redevelop 79 Maple Street, and also to celebrate national coop month. See news coverage here: Channel 6, Channel 13, Channel 8, Sun Journal, full press event..
On September 24th we participated in a Cooperatives and Community Wealth Webinar hosted by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.
On August 1st we launched our new video and fundraising page on Razoo!
On Saturday, April 25th, the Raise-Op presented at Principle Six Conference hosted by Cooperative Maine, at the Viles Arboretum.
On Saturday, February 7th, the Lerner Foundation confirmed that we will receive a grant for $15,000 to incorporate civic engagement practices into the process of starting and operating the Raise-Op. We are very grateful to the Lerner Foundation for recognizing how our project is one that aims to develop the leadership abilities of our participants.
On Thursday, January 15th , Dig Portland published a great article about cooperative housing efforts in Lewiston as well as Portland.
On Friday, January 2nd, the Lewiston Sun Journal published an excellent article about our project. Read it here.