Feb. 20, 2012

A new venue geared to green businesses and organizations is opening its doors next week.

The Dallas Eco-op will debut when it hosts the Green Source DFW Environmental Leadership Awards on Feb. 28, sponsored by the Memnosyne Foundation.

The Eco-op in northeast Dallas is the brainchild of Heather Rinaldi, founder of Texas Worm Ranch. Plans for the facility started brewing last summer when temperatures hovered above 100 degrees for weeks. Rinaldi knew she needed a new space for her composting worm business if she was going to keep it alive, literally. The place where she was corralling her critters wasn’t climate controlled and the worms were wilting in the heat. However, she balked at leasing a new building by herself. That’s when she came up with the idea of forming a green co-op.  (Photo:  Steve Clary, left and Randy Johnson right in the Worm Ranch) t)    
 

Rinaldi rounded up some of her colleagues in the green business community to join her. Then they said, “Why don’t we add nonprofits into the mix?”

Today the Eco-op, located in a shopping center in the Lake Highlands neighborhood, includes five businesses and three nonprofit organizations, which have partnered to lease the space. The 6,000-square-foot building, located at 10137A Shoreview, formerly housed a Piggly Wiggly. Despite its stark appearance, Rinaldi immediately saw the potential.

“It’s definitely an ugly duckling,” said Rinaldi, of the building that has sat vacant for several years. However, when she walked in the front door, she said “This is it,” said Rinaldi. “I knew I could make it work.”

In addition to providing office space, the building will be used for meetings, events and workshops.

Next week, Green Source DFW will kick off the tradition when it recognizes 12 honorees at the Green Source DFW Environmental Leadership Awards (RSVP today). The fundraiser will also celebrate the one-year anniversary of the publication, supported by the Memnosyne Foundation.

Phillip Shinoda, project manager of Green Source DFW, is setting up an office in the Eco-op and plans to host other Green Source DFW events there.

Other business owners involved in the partnership include Dallas attorney Bruce Bagelman, owner of Green Spot Market and Fuels. Bagelman will open a satellite law office in the building, where he’ll focus on his agricultural, renewable energy and sustainable business clients.

Eddie Lott, founder and president of Recycle Revolution, plans to set up a community drop off station for recyclables. Lott said the facility will also provide a space to host groups interested in the recycling process who regularly visit his warehouse to learn about his operations.

“This will be a place where we can talk to people about recycling and answer questions,” he said.

Clean Air Lawn Care and Texas Honey Bee Guild will also have storefronts in the Eco-op, along with nonprofits Grow North Texas and White Rock Lake Local Market.

A donation from Lake Highlands residents Dan and Molly Beebe also helped jumpstart the project.

In the coming months, Rinaldi said they plan to open up the Eco-op to other groups or businesses. These associate partners will have access to the space for events or meetings at a reduced rate.

In addition to supporting green entrepreneurs and organizations, she envisions the green co-op as a place where people of all ages can attend classes, hold meet-ups, watch documentary film screenings or learn about local green businesses.

“We hope to bring some vibrancy to the community,” said Rinaldi.

For more information about the Eco-op, contact Rinaldi at rancher@txwormranch.com. To make reservations for the Green Source DFW awards, VISIT THE EVENT PAGE.


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