GREENFIELD — Franklin Community Co-op’s capital campaign to help fund the redevelopment of the former Wilson’s Department Store is about $140,000 away from its $1.5 million goal as an Oct. 1 deadline approaches, the co-op announced Tuesday.

The campaign, which kicked off in late April, “was created to provide financial support of the project and show other potential lenders support of the expansion and relocation by co-op member-owners and community,” the announcement explains. So far, more than 175 of the more than 5,700 member-owners have contributed to the campaign with a minimum loan of $2,000, making for a $1.36 million total thus far.

“I think we feel really confident in our planning for the project in general,” Franklin Community Co-op Outreach and Communications Manager Amy Britt said Wednesday, referencing the capital campaign’s Sunday deadline. “I don’t think we’re worried. We’re just really appreciative to see this level of support for the co-op.”

Mayor Roxann Wedegartner announced in November 2022 that the city worked in partnership with The Community Builders, MassDevelopment and the Franklin Community Co-op on acquisition of the Wilson’s Department Store property on Main Street. It was one of the last independent, family-owned department stores in the country, closing in January 2020 following the retirement of former President Kevin O’Neil.

The redevelopment plan involves relocating and expanding Green Fields Market, which is operated by the Franklin Community Co-op, into the building’s first floor and turning the upper floors into mixed-income rental apartments. The property — which includes the parking lot behind the building and two lots on Chapman Street — was priced at $3.95 million when it officially went on the market.

Franklin County Co-op Board Vice President KC Ceccarossi previously said the relocation of Green Fields Market, currently situated about a block away, will allow for the food cooperative to double the sales floor and increase local sales, as well as grow job availability by an estimated 20%. Currently, the market employs about 100 people.

Britt said the co-op will pursue non-member-owner investors following the conclusion of the campaign. This process will involve “talking with regional leaders and funders … in the community of Franklin County” who are passionate about “downtown revitalization going forward,” she explained.

“As the co-op’s member loan campaign comes to a close on Oct. 1, our member-owners showed up in force to say we believe in our co-op and we believe in this project,” Capital Campaign Team Lead Peter Garbus said in a statement. “With over 175 members making loans of over $1.3 million, we have a very strong message to convey to the other funders we’ll need to line up next: this project has community support and is worth your investment.”

The co-op invites members of the public to support the project via non-tax-deductible donations. Those interested in more information about donating or about the Franklin Community Co-op can contact Garbus at capitalcampaigninfo@franklincommunity.coop.

A timeline for next steps and the ultimate completion of the redevelopment project “hasn’t been entirely finalized,” Britt said. To date, planners have received approval from the Planning Board and a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Britt noted there is a community forum planned for this fall that will likely provide a clearer timeline for the project. No specific date has been set for the forum yet.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.