Cooperative Services

A cooperative is business owned and democratically controlled by the people who use its services. Cooperatives primarily operate for the benefit of members rather than earn profits for external investors.

Cooperative Services provide a wide range of assistance for people interested in forming new cooperatives; technical assistance to existing cooperatives facing specific problems or challenges; conduct research to provide a knowledge base to help cooperatives deal with changing markets and business trends; and produce information products to promote public understanding of cooperatives.

Types of Technical Assistance

• Present general information on co-op program
• Help groups explore co-op structural options to meet their aspirations
• Organize a steering committee and board of directors
• Guide a steering committee through the steps of organizing a co-op
• Draft by-laws, articles of incorporation, and co-op policies
• Research portions of a feasibility study and business plan
• Explore an equity drive and financing options
• Provide initial and ongoing board of directors and membership training
• Train future co-op development practitioners

Program Details