The northern community of Ile a la Crosse will soon have a new grocery store.
The communities Cooperative Association officially announced this week that a new Co-op store is in the works.
The association says this new store has been in the planning stages for several years and the community will soon be able to official turn soil in the coming weeks.
“Our board and the community are excited that this day has finally come,” said Kevin Raymond, President of the Ile a la Crosse Co-operative Association. “I think it is important that everyone understands just how substantial and different that this store is going to be… there really is no comparison in our community and that is why we are so excited.
With the growth of food insecurity in the north, the cooperative was formed by a group of local residents with the goal to provide better food choices and prices.
In addition to the grocery benefit, Raymond says the store will also provide an economic boost.
“We are looking at added 15 additional jobs to the community and we are looking at providing a livable wage,” said Raymond. “One of our focuses is to build the community and we can do that through our employees by ensuring they are paid a fair wage.”
Construction on the new grocery store is expected to start in the coming weeks with an official opening planned for either winter or spring of 2022, depending on how construction goes.