MCIC Monthly Update for June 2026
Board Update: Where We Are in the SCOR Process
We have just completed the initial draft of MCIC’s “Small Company Offering Registration Form” (SCOR) and submitted it to our securities legal team for review. (Wahoo!)
This document comprises a major portion of the filing requirements set by the Idaho Securities Bureau for conducting a private stock offering. This portion of the filing, the Form U-7, includes required disclosures about risks to investors, a description of securities that will be offered, how the proceeds of the offering will be used, organizational and leadership structures, and financial documents.
Completing this document required careful consideration and decisions by the Board of Directors and the Business Development Committee. Just a few examples are: “How much and what kind of securities will be offered?” “How will MCIC deploy equity capital to achieve its objectives?” “Under what conditions will MCIC finance the purchase of real estate via a loan?” “What is the minimum offering amount that MCIC requires to be viable?” “What do MCIC business operations look like, and what source of revenue will fund MCIC business operations?”
We expect that the legal review of our draft SCOR Form will prompt revisions and additions. We will also receive legal advice on how securities regulations apply to the marketing and advertising conducted as part of a capital campaign to sell stock.
The Board of Directors’ current timeline envisions 60 days to finalize all SCOR filing requirements with our legal team and then submit MCIC’s registration to the State in August. Pending review by the Idaho Securities Bureau, MCIC could potentially begin its initial stock offering and accept member applications in October.
Fundraising Update
MCIC has received $27,850 in direct donations toward start‑up costs! A heartfelt thank you to the 73 couples and individuals, the IGNITE grant, and Moscow Food Co-op, for their contributions. Your generosity is what makes this cooperative possible!
One of the most significant and often overlooked steps in launching a community investment cooperative of this type is completing the legal and regulatory process required to offer investment opportunities to future cooperative members. Working through the Idaho Department of Finance’s Securities Bureau requires extensive legal, financial, and organizational preparation to ensure that community investment offerings meet state requirements and protect investors. While this process is essential, it is also time-consuming and costly.
To complete this critical phase and move closer to offering securities to members, MCIC still needs to raise an additional $10,000 in start-up funding. Every contribution helps cover the professional and legal costs necessary to build a strong foundation for the cooperative and unlock future community investment opportunities. All administrative functions that make this happen are being generously volunteered by the MCIC board members, especially those on the Business Development Committee (who are supposedly retired but are giving so much of their time and energy to making it all happen).
Thank you for helping make community-powered investment in the Moscow area a reality.
If you’d like to help us reach our updated goal, contributions to start‑up costs can be made on the MCIC website or by checks payable to MCIC and mailed to:
MCIC PO BOX 8596
Moscow, ID 83843
Board Member Spotlight
Ross Warren
Ross Warren joined the MCIC board this June. Ross is a career-advising and student-development professional based in Moscow, Idaho, with more than five years of higher-education advising experience and over two decades of leadership, mentoring, and supervision. At the University of Idaho, he serves as a Career Counselor with Career Services and as a Guest Lecturer in the Department of History, where he supports students through one-on-one advising, resume and interview preparation, curriculum design, and classroom instruction.
Ross previously served as Professor of Military Science, directing the University of Idaho’s Army ROTC program, where he oversaw the recruitment, retention, and academic progression of cadets across dozens of degree plans. His military career also included senior staff leadership roles managing large organizations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and teams of military, federal, and civilian personnel.
He holds a BS in History from the University of Idaho, an MS in Adult, Occupational, and Continuing Education from Kansas State University, and an MMAS from the US Army Command and General Staff College, and he is completing a PhD in Political Science (expected December 2026). Active in the Moscow community, Ross serves as Senior Vice Commander of VFW Post 2905 and is involved with the Latah County Historical Society and Vandal Boosters.
Join us in welcoming Ross to the MCIC team!
Annual Report
Thank you for your service, Bev Rhodes!
It is with deep gratitude that we thank Bev Rhodes for her service on the MCIC Board of Directors. Bev played a critical role in helping us navigate financial, governance, and administrative details, and we will sorely miss her eye for detail. MCIC would not be where it is today without Bev. Please join us in extending a heartfelt thank-you for her service and in wishing her well in her next chapter.
Help Build Something Moscow Owns Together
The Moscow Community Investment Cooperative is looking for additional board members to help lay the foundation for community ownership of local commercial property — and to keep Moscow equitable, accessible, and locally rooted for the long haul.
We have an immediate need for a Treasurer following Bev’s departure, and we also have additional open board seats. The Treasurer role is a great fit for someone with experience in financial oversight, budgeting, or accounting, but strong candidates from any background are encouraged to reach out.
A few things we want to be upfront about, because we’d rather you know now:
This is a working board. We are a startup cooperative building the systems, structure, and trust that everything else will grow from. That means real hands-on effort — realistically around 10–15 hours a month, with lighter stretches and the occasional heavier ones depending on where we are in the process. We’re looking for people who are genuinely excited to roll up their sleeves and help create something meaningful.
A cooperative is jointly owned and democratically controlled. That model only works when the people who are a part of it are engaged, present, and invested in its success. We’re looking for board members who bring that kind of commitment and passion — people who want to help build a cooperative that serves this community for years to come.
Interested? Reach out to us at moscowinvestmentcooperative@gmail.com, and in your note, tell us one area of skill or experience you think you could best bring to the board — finance, real estate, legal, fundraising, marketing, governance, community organizing, or anything else you are skilled in and believe would benefit the establishment of this cooperative. We’d love to hear from you.
Cooperative Principle of the Month
Cooperative Principle of the Month #5: We are committed to social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Our investment decisions will be guided by more than financial returns. MCIC is committed to creating places that strengthen Moscow’s economy, support locally owned businesses, encourage responsible use of existing buildings, and contribute to a healthy, resilient, and welcoming community. We believe that thoughtful local investment can generate lasting benefits for both our members and our neighbors.
Real Estate Fact of the Month
Because Moscow is a relatively small market, commercial properties are often held by local investors, families, or regional ownership groups for long periods. While transaction data can be limited, local brokers frequently emphasize stability and long-term ownership over rapid turnover. This highlights Moscow’s appeal as a stable investment environment.
Many Hands Make Light Work: Lend your skills to a cooperative built for Moscow.
You don’t have to join the board to help shape what the Moscow Community Investment Cooperative becomes. Our committees are where a lot of the meaningful work happens, and we’re actively looking for volunteers to join us.
We have room on three committees right now:
- Outreach & Engagement — help us tell MCIC’s story, grow our community of members and investors, participate in a meaningful capital campaign, and connect with neighbors, local businesses, and partners across Moscow.
- Business Development — help shape strategy, evaluate property and partnership opportunities, and think through how the cooperative grows.
- Finance — help with budgeting, financial planning, and the numbers that keep the cooperative healthy and accountable.
Committee work is more flexible than serving on the board, and it’s a great way to contribute your time and talents at a level that fits your life. What we’re looking for is genuine enthusiasm for building something community-owned and a willingness to show up and participate.