Join Atlantic City's Community-Owned Movement
Fresh food. Local delivery network. Social impact. Local jobs. Small business growth. Community ownership.
Atlantic City Community Cooperative is building a community-centered supermarket, Boardwalk Basket delivery platform, local vendor marketplace, and social impact network designed to help Atlantic City residents, workers, businesses, sponsors, and supporters participate in a new model of local ownership and public benefit.
Choose the Membership Path That Fits You
There is more than one way to be part of Atlantic City Community Cooperative. You can join free as a supporter, apply for food and delivery support, become a Community Owner Member through Class A Community Stock, or support the movement as a Corporate / Sponsor Member.
Join Free
Patron Member
Start as a free supporter and stay connected to AC COOP launch, events, updates, and community campaigns.
Get Support
Premium Access Member
For qualifying Atlantic City residents who need food access, delivery support, wellness resources, and social impact services.
Own the Movement
Community Owner Member / Class A Community Stock
For eligible Atlantic City residents, workers, small businesses, and community stakeholders who want to help own and guide the movement.
Invest in Atlantic City
Corporate / Sponsor Member
For businesses, institutions, nonprofits, healthcare providers, foundations, and civic partners that want to sponsor community ownership and Atlantic City small business growth.
Join Free as a Patron Member
The easiest way to join the movement.
Patron Membership is designed for anyone who wants to support Atlantic City Community Cooperative, stay connected, receive updates, attend events, and help spread the word.
This is the best first step for supporters, volunteers, visitors, students, future customers, and community members who are not ready to become owners yet.
First Year: Free
Renewal After First Year: $25 annually
Stock Ownership: No
Voting Rights: No
Upgrade Option: Yes, eligible members may upgrade to Community Owner Membership.
Benefits
- Free first-year membership
- Digital Patron Member card
- AC COOP launch updates
- Boardwalk Basket updates
- Invitations to community meetings and events
- Selected member promotions
- Volunteer and ambassador opportunities
- Ability to refer members, vendors, and sponsors
- Option to upgrade to Community Owner Membership if eligible
Start supporting Atlantic City's community-owned future.
Get Support as a Premium Access Member
Free food access and community support membership for qualifying Atlantic City residents.
Premium Access Membership is for Atlantic City residents receiving public assistance or facing financial hardship. This membership is designed to make healthy food, delivery support, wellness resources, and social impact services easier to access.
Premium Access Membership is a free social impact membership created to support residents who need access, affordability, and connection to services.
Who May Qualify
Atlantic City residents may qualify if they receive or are eligible for support such as SNAP, EBT, WIC, Medicaid, Medicare-related assistance, TANF, housing assistance, unemployment support, SSI/SSDI, senior assistance, veterans support, reentry support, or other public assistance or hardship-based programs.
Cost: Free for approved applicants
Application: Social Impact Application
Stock Ownership: Not automatic
Voting Rights: No, unless converted into Community Owner Membership
Ownership Pathway: Sponsored or installment-based Class A Community Stock pathway may be available.
Benefits
- Free Premium Access Membership
- Reduced or waived delivery support when available
- Access to affordable grocery bundles
- Access to food box and nutrition programs
- Assisted ordering through Block Captains
- SNAP/EBT ordering support when active
- Social service referral support
- Health concierge network access when launched
- Workforce and entrepreneurship program referrals
- Senior, family, and disability support pathways
- Opportunity to become a sponsored Community Owner Member
Complete the Social Impact Application and let AC COOP help connect you to food, delivery, and support resources.
Own the Movement as a Community Owner Member
For eligible Atlantic City residents, workers, small businesses, and local stakeholders.
Community Owner Membership is the ownership pathway for people and businesses directly connected to Atlantic City. This membership is for those who want to help build, guide, and benefit from Atlantic City's community-centered food, delivery, and marketplace system.
Community Owner Members participate through Class A Community Stock, subject to COOP bylaws, stock issuance policies, and applicable law. COOP's formation document designates 200,000 shares as Class A Community Stock and states that Class A Community Stock may only be issued to qualifying persons connected to the Atlantic City Metro Area as further defined by the bylaws.
Recommended Ownership Investment
$200 community ownership investment
Payment Options
- • $200 one-time payment
- • $20 per month for 10 months
- • $10 per month for 20 months for approved community access participants
- • Sponsored ownership pathway for qualifying residents
Eligibility
Available to eligible individuals and local entities connected to the Atlantic City Metro Area, including AC residents, people who work in Atlantic City, AC small businesses, and other qualifying community stakeholders, subject to COOP bylaws and stock issuance policies.
Governance Rights
Class A Community Stockholders participate in the governance rights assigned to Class A Community Stock. The formation document gives Class A Community Stockholders the right to elect 2 members of the Board of Directors, voting separately as a class.
Benefits
- Community ownership participation through Class A Community Stock
- Participation in Class A board elections
- Member-owner grocery and marketplace benefits
- Reduced Boardwalk Basket delivery fees
- Member-only food bundles and promotions
- Priority access to local produce and vendor offers
- Invitations to member and shareholder meetings
- Annual public benefit and community impact updates
- Eligibility for dividends or other benefits if approved by the Board and legally available
- Opportunity to help shape COOP's future
Help Atlantic City own the solution.
Invest in Atlantic City as a Corporate / Sponsor Member
A non-voting sponsorship membership for businesses, institutions, nonprofits, and civic partners.
Corporate / Sponsor Membership is for organizations that want to support Atlantic City Community Cooperative's public benefit mission without becoming voting shareholders.
This membership is designed for businesses, corporations, healthcare providers, banks, foundations, nonprofits, universities, casinos, hospitality companies, local employers, professional service firms, and civic partners that want to invest in Atlantic City's future through food access, community ownership, small business growth, workforce development, and neighborhood-level impact.
Corporate / Sponsor Membership is not a stock offering, does not include voting rights, and does not provide ownership in COOP. It is a public benefit sponsorship and partnership pathway.
Recommended Sponsorship Levels
$500
Community Supporter
For small businesses, local professionals, and individual civic supporters.
$1,000
Neighborhood Builder
Supports outreach, member enrollment, and neighborhood engagement.
$2,500
Food Access Partner
Supports grocery access, delivery support, and food bundle programs.
$5,000
Community Ownership Sponsor
Supports sponsored Community Owner Memberships and resident ownership access.
$10,000
Atlantic City Impact Partner
Supports citywide membership growth, food access, delivery equity, and small business participation.
$25,000+
Founding Corporate Partner
For major institutions and anchor partners committed to Atlantic City's long-term revitalization.
Corporate / Sponsor Membership is a non-voting sponsorship membership. It does not include stock ownership, shareholder rights, voting rights, dividends, or investment returns.
Compare Membership Options
| Pathway | Best For | Cost | Stock Ownership | Voting Rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Join Free — Patron Member | Supporters, volunteers, visitors, future members | Free first year | No | No |
| Get Support — Premium Access Member | Qualifying AC residents needing food and service access | Free with application | Not automatic | No |
| Own the Movement — Community Owner Member | Eligible AC residents, workers, small businesses, stakeholders | Recommended $200 | Class A Community Stock | Class A rights |
| Invest — Corporate / Sponsor Member | Businesses, institutions, nonprofits, sponsors, civic partners | $500 to $25,000+ | No | No |
Sponsor a Neighbor. Sponsor an Owner. Sponsor the Movement.
Many Atlantic City residents want to participate in the cooperative movement but may not be able to pay ownership equity immediately. COOP will work with businesses, donors, healthcare partners, foundations, faith-based organizations, and sponsors to help qualifying residents access Premium Membership and, where possible, become Community Owner Members.
This Is Bigger Than a Membership
Atlantic City Community Cooperative is building a new model of public benefit business: one where food access, local business growth, delivery equity, community wellness, and local ownership work together. When you join, apply, own, or sponsor, you are helping create:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a member to shop?+
No. COOP may serve the broader public. Membership provides additional access, benefits, ownership opportunities, and participation pathways.
What is the difference between Patron Membership and Community Owner Membership?+
Patron Membership is a free supporter membership and does not include stock ownership or voting rights. Community Owner Membership includes participation through Class A Community Stock, subject to eligibility and governing documents.
Is Premium Access Membership stock ownership?+
No. Premium Access Membership is a free social impact membership for qualifying Atlantic City residents. It does not automatically include stock ownership or voting rights.
Can Premium Access Members become owners?+
Yes. Premium Access Members may become Community Owner Members through sponsorship, installment payment, or other approved ownership pathways.
Who can become a Community Owner Member?+
Community Owner Membership is intended for eligible Atlantic City residents, workers, small businesses, and local stakeholders, subject to COOP bylaws and stock issuance policies.
Can businesses become Community Owner Members?+
Yes, if permitted by COOP bylaws and stock policies. A business may need to designate one authorized representative.
What is Corporate / Sponsor Membership?+
Corporate / Sponsor Membership is a non-voting sponsorship membership for organizations that want to support COOP's public benefit mission, sponsor resident memberships, promote food access, and invest in Atlantic City's community development.
Does Corporate / Sponsor Membership include stock or voting rights?+
No. Corporate / Sponsor Membership does not include stock ownership, voting rights, dividends, or investment returns.
Can a sponsor also become a vendor or partner?+
Yes. Sponsors may also participate as vendors, service providers, community partners, event sponsors, or Boardwalk Basket partners if approved through the appropriate process.
Will Community Owner Members receive dividends?+
Dividends or other economic benefits may be available only if declared by the Board and legally permitted. No dividend should be guaranteed.
Atlantic City Can Own the Solution
Whether you join free, apply for support, become a Community Owner Member, or sponsor the movement, you are helping build a stronger Atlantic City.
This is food access. This is local ownership. This is small business growth. This is community power.
Membership, stock ownership, voting rights, dividends, transfer restrictions, eligibility, sponsorship benefits, and participation rights are subject to COOP's certificate of formation, bylaws, board policies, membership agreements, stock issuance documents, and applicable law. Patron Membership, Premium Access Membership, and Corporate / Sponsor Membership do not include stock ownership or voting rights.