10 YEARS OF

COOPERATION2011-2020 Review

The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives(UWCC) is a trusted and unbiased voice on thecooperative business model serving the needs ofcooperatives in Wisconsin and beyond. With a strongpublic service orientation and access to world-classuniversity resources, we leverage research, education,and outreach capabilities to foster critical thinkingand understanding about cooperatives. As the onlyU.S. university-based center that studies andsupports all forms of cooperative business, UWCCprovides valued education and research to a diverserange of communities.

About

427 Lorch Street, Madison, WI 53706

uwcc.wisc.edu | info@uwcc.wisc.edu

608-890-1048

MissionThe University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperativesseeks to increase understanding and encouragecritical thinking about cooperatives by fosteringscholarship and mutual learning among academics, thecooperative community, policymakers, and the public.

This report provides the highlights of a decade ofcooperation and service to cooperatives in Wisconsinand beyond. We enthusiastically strive to provideleadership in cooperative development, criticalexamination of the cooperative model, and educationabout how people can use the cooperative businessmodel to build more inclusive local economies. All ofthis success reflects our network of dedicated andpassionate cooperators collaborating together tocommunicate, engage, and demonstrate thecooperative difference in communities.

Contact

Every fall, UWCC offers a comprehensive class on cooperatives. The course, Cooperativesand Alternative Forms of Enterprise Ownership, explores why cooperatives and other user-owned enterprises emerge, who they serve, how they differ from other forms of enterprise,and the ways in which they can be used to address social, economic, and environmentalchallenges. Since 2010, 250 students have completed UWCC's Co-ops class.

While there is not a formal program on cooperatives at UW-Madison, UWCC has supportedgraduate and postdoctoral fellows with an interest in cooperatives with academic guidance,mentorship, access to cooperative documents and data, and industry connections to facilitategraduate research. Additionally, UWCC staff have supported students from the UW Law Schoolwho are interested in the cooperative model, and have worked directly with the Law &Entrepreneurship Clinic to support cooperative clients and develop cooperative legal resources.

Educating FutureCooperative Leaders

The UW Center for Cooperatives prepares future cooperative leaders through

undergraduate and graduate courses, scholarship programs, and internships.

Scholarships

250UW-Madison

students completedcourse on co-ops

The Barbara and Thomas Lyon Scholarship Fundwas established in 2013 to support graduatestudents with an expressed interest incooperatives. The award provides $,4,000annually to fund study and research materials,travel or other expenses.

Education

The Farmer Cooperatives Young Leaders Scholarship Program provides Farmer CooperativesConference scholarships to students with an interest in agribusiness and cooperatives. Since2018, 36 scholarship recipients have attended the conference to learn about and interact withleaders from agricultural cooperatives. The program is made possible through the generoussupport of the Renk Agribusiness Institute, the Ralph K. Morris Foundation, and the William andHarold Moy Young Leaders Scholarship Fund.

Farmer Cooperatives Young Leaders Scholarshipawardees at the 2019 Farmer Cooperatives Conference

"After attending the Farmer’sCooperatives Conference, I feel more

excited about working for a cooperativethan any private company. The unique

sense of ownership and pride in your workthat the cooperative system provides

seems to excite me."-Samuel Jesse, 2019 Recipient

Latinx Cooperative ResearchIn 2019, UWCC generated the first nationalcompilation of U.S. Latinx cooperatives of allco-op types and sectors. The initiativeincreased understanding of the collectiverole of Latinx cooperatives in the broaderco-op community and providedopportunities for Latinx cooperators toconnect. In collaboration with Dr. JessicaGordon Nembhard, UWCC summarizedfindings in the Latinx Co-op Power report.

Researching theCooperative Model

UWCC researches the cooperative model and its impact on the

economy and communities.

Measuring the Cooperative EconomyOver the past decade, UWCC spearheadedan effort to measure the cooperativeeconomy at a national level. Significant focuswas dedicated to building institutionalcapacity, expanding access to microdatathrough the Federal Statistical Research DataCenter at UW-Madison, and advocating forthe the inclusion of a measurement ofcooperatives in the 2017 Economic Census.UWCC has additionally mapped cooperativesby sector, congressional district, andemployee count.

Collective Action in Rural Communities Funded by the National Institute forAgriculture’s Agriculture Food ResearchInitiative, this project has developeddecision-making tools to enhanceopportunities for rural cooperativeentrepreneurship. A key outcome of thisproject is the National CooperativeResource Ecosystem map, which highlightsfactors that contribute to new cooperativedevelopment such as cooperativedevelopment assistance, legal context, andco-op friendly capital. Additional projectactivities included mapping existingcooperatives, recent start-ups, andconversions; and identifying clusters ofrobust cooperative activity in the U.S.

Members of Green Worker Co-ops

Exploring Cooperatives: Economic Democracyand Community Development in Pennsylvaniaand Wisconsin by Craig Borowiak, RichardsonDilworth and Anne Reynolds

Successful Cooperative OwnershipTransitions: Case Studies on the Conversion ofPrivately Held Businesses to WorkerCooperatives by Courtney Berner, MichaelaHolmes, Anne Reynolds, and Joe Rinehart

Cooperatives and Rural Broadband: ASelective Survey by Lynn Pitman and Mary Kluz

Providing the Right Support: Are the TrainingNeeds of Multi-Stakeholder CooperativesUnique? by Courtney Berner

Coordinating Farm Labor Across Farms: AToolbox for Diversified Farmers andFarmworkers by Courtney Berner, Erin Hannum,

and Kelly Maynard

Applied Research on the Co-op ModelUWCC's applied research on cooperatives hasled to case studies and reports that highlightlessons learned and innovative uses of thecooperative model. Sample publicationsinclude:

Educating on the Cooperative Business Model

Employee Ownership as a Business Retention Strategy - UWCC has actively promoted therole of cooperatives in growing and retaining local businesses. Since 2012, UWCC has organizedthree seminars, one webinar, and a roadshow on employee ownership transitions; presented atnumerous state and national conferences; and engaged in conversations with dozens ofbusinesses and economic development professionals.

Convening Regional Cooperators - UWCC is recognized as a leader in convening groups toadvance the cooperative model. In 2019, UWCC co-hosted one of a series of regional policyroundtables bringing together a diverse set of cooperatives, community based organizations, andpolicy makers. Since 2013, UWCC has convened a cooperative developers roundtable to shareresources, lessons learned, and ensure synergy between development efforts in the region.

Cooperatives in Wisconsin: The Power of Cooperative Action I n 2019, we updated UWCC's mostwidely used publication highlightscooperative types, structure, finance,and steps to start a cooperative.

UWCC engages with individuals and organizations to educate about cooperativesand their potential roles in community and economic development.

Directory of Cooperatives in Wisconsin - UWCC haslong maintained a directory of cooperatives inWisconsin. In 2019, UWCC released an updateddirectory that includes interactive maps of the state'scooperatives offering users the ability to explorecooperatives by country, sector, and type.

Strategic Outreach Partnerships - UWCC has developed partnerships with manyorganizations at the local, state, and national levels. Examples of this work includes:

Madison Public Library: Delivered free Cooperatives 101presentations and helped develop the cooperativebusiness model book collection. Intertribal Agriculture Council: Provided cooperativeresources and trainings at regional tribal foodsovereignty summits Co-op Connection: Since 2011, UWCC has participatedin Summit Credit Union's annual event that promotesand connects co-ops in Dane County.

Martin Alvarado of the Madison Public Libraryholds the list of materials available in thecooperative business model collection.

Developing Cooperative Business

Support of Grocery CooperativesSince 2015, UWCC has participated in theSmall and Strong Initiative, which providessupport and training to small, ruralgrocery cooperatives in the UpperMidwest. The program has included aannual one day conference and storepeer audits. In partnership with Food Co-op Initiative, UWCC hosted peer learningcalls to deliver training to start-opgrocery cooperatives.

Rural Cooperative DevelopmentIn 2011, UWCC initiated a decade of concerted work in cooperative business developmentthrough USDA’s annual Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program. The RCDGprogram exists to help rural cooperatives and small businesses expand, create jobs, andstrengthen their capacity to serve rural citizens and communities. UWCC providescooperative development services to rural clients including assistance with organizationaldevelopment, cooperative education, board training, strategic planning, and support duringfeasibility and business planning activities. Key project areas include food and agriculture:healthcare and childcare; broadband; renewable energy; affordable housing; and thepromotion of employee ownership.

Madison Worker Cooperative Development The Madison Cooperative Development Coalition (MCDC) is the City of Madison’s initiative toform worker cooperatives that address income inequality and racial disparities by creatingliving-wage and sustainable jobs. A collaborative of community-based organizations,business resource specialists, and cooperative developers, MCDC works to support the growth and creation of worker cooperatives, specifically addressing the factors affectinglocal communities of color, low-wealth, and traditionallyexcluded workforces. The goal is to create a sustainable system that will combat poverty, empower workers and increase equity inorder to strengthen Madison’s long-termeconomic health.

UWCC provides assistance to new and emerging cooperatives or businessesinterested in converting to employee ownership.

47 New Co-ops

Assisted

34 Co-ops

Incorporated

70%Survival Rate

Training Cooperative Developers UWCC is a member of a national network of cooperative development centers called CooperationWorks! through which we have providedtraining for cooperative development professionals basedon our resources and research findings.

Cooperative DevelopmentSuccess Stories

UWCC is proud to provide support and technical assistance to cooperatives. Hereare some examples of cooperative start-ups and conversions.

South Central Wisconsin Hemp Cooperative Founded in 2019, South Central Wisconsin HempCooperative is a producer co-op focused on growing and marketing high qualitycertified organic hemp. UWCChas provided SCWHC with awide range of technicalassistance includingcooperative governancetraining, organizational andbylaw development, and early-stage operations development.The first contemporary hempco-op in Wisconsin, SCWHC isactively selling its first batch ofUSDA certified organic CBD oilwhile preparing a sales plan fortheir 2020 crop.

Wisconsin Food Hub CooperativeAfter the publication of the 2011Southern WI Food Hub Feasibility Studyby Dane County, UWCC became a keypartner, along with Extension and theWisconsin Farmers Union, in conveningfarmers to address their needs throughopportunities identified in the study.Ongoing technical assistance led tothe formation of the Wisconsin Food

Oshkosh Food Co-opIncorporated in 2013,

Oshkosh Food Co-op isset to open its doors in 2021. UWCC provided

governance training andguidance to the co-op.

Co-op foundersparticipated in peer topeer learning calls for

start up grocerycooperatives which were

coordinated by UWCCand Food Co-op

Initiative.

Hub Cooperative, which has grown to over 40 farmerowners and over $2.5 millionin annual sales.

Roots4Change Cooperative Dane County's first immigrant-owned cooperative,Roots4Change is comprised of six social enterprises led byLatina and Indigenous doulas and community health workers.UWCC provided technical assistance including governanceand financial training to worker-owners. The MadisonCooperative Development Coalition provided grand funding.

Northwind Solar Northwind Solar is a solar power system design andinstallation company organized in 2007 in Amherst, WI. In2016, UWCC provided technical assistance to the company to transition to a worker-owned cooperative.Throughout the9 monthconversion,UWCCprovidedgovernanceandorganizationaldevelopmentsupport.

Education and Trainingfor Cooperatives

UWCC provides education and professional development programs for current cooperative leaders.

Farmer Cooperatives Conference (FCC)

Developed in 1998 to address a gap ineducation opportunities for farmercooperative leaders, FCC highlights the latestthinking on agricultural cooperative issuesand trends. Since 2010, 1,710 farmercooperative leaders have attended the eventto exchange ideas with researchers, experts,and their cooperative peers.

International Cooperative VisitsUWCC regularly hosts internationalcooperative delegations due to the robustcooperative community found in Wisconsin.UWCC develops tailored education programson U.S. cooperatives and arranges visits withlocal cooperatives and farms for visitors. Theseprograms offer an opportunity for exchangeof ideas between different cooperativemovements.

Consumer Cooperative ManagementAssociation Conference (CCMA)

CCMA is the annual national conference forgrocery cooperative leaders. While CCMA hasserved the grocery cooperative communityfor 65 years, UWCC assumed stewardship ofthe conference in 2017. Since 2010, over5,000 people have attended CCMA to learnabout industry innovation and best practices.

Cooperative Director TrainingSince 2015, UWCC has delivered semiannualboard director training for all sectors andtypes of cooperatives. These events bringtogether directors to learn about board bestpractices that support cooperatives' success. The program highlights legal, finance, andgovernance topics bridge all cooperativesectors. Since 2015, 662 cooperators haveattended the co-op directors trainings.

Roundtable discussions at Co-op DirectorsForum hosted by Organic Valley in Cashton, WI.

Brazilian cooperators tour a dairy barn.

Dara Cooper presents at CCMA 2019 in Durham, North CarolinaFarmer Cooperatives Conference attendees in Minneapolis.