Cooperatives
In Essence, Cooperatives are Community Enterprises
Corporations exist to generate profits — there's not necessarily anything wrong with that, but it can lead to greedy, selfish and irresponsible behavior when left unchecked (remember Enron?).
Co-ops offer one alternative to traditional corporate structures. Co-ops are owned by their members and employees, and therefore they exist to serve their members and employees. This often means better wages, better working conditions, and a more responsible attitude to the community and the environment. Of course it can also mean longer meetings and more complicated decision making, but there's a downside to democracy.
Co-ops also keep money circulating within their communities, as opposed to paying off shareholders who may live on the other side of the world.
Here are some great co-op links:
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Cooperative Coffees is a green coffee importing cooperative, comprised of 22 community-based coffee roasters in the USA and Canada. Larry's Beans buy nearly all their coffee through these guys, and Larry is a founding member and ex-chairman of the organization. |
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Cooperative Grocer This site is a great place to learn more about co-ops. |
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Cooperative Development Services CDS is a non-profit organization providing training and technical assistance to co-ops in food, forestry, and other industries. |
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Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) Growing a cooperative business can be challenging. North Country Cooperative Development Fund (NCDF) is a cooperatively owned financial intermediary which acts as a catalyst for the growth and development of cooperatives by offering co-ops and/or socially motivated institutions a means to pool surplus funds. |
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The National Cooperative Bank (NCB) The NCB is a congressionally chartered financial institution that serves the American cooperative business sector, creating economic growth and community development in urban and rural areas. From the home page click Cooperative Development, and you’ll get an overview. |