Publications and Information includes descriptions, case studies, models, sample documents, videos, papers, maps, and strategies to assist with cooperative development. If your information is not represented here, please contact us at CoopInfo@usda.gov .
USDA Cooperative Programs provides many publications, reports, and educational materials. These are primarily authored by USDA staff but include publications by University partners and other cooperative specialists.
Publications
This publication is a guide to the legal aspects of converting an employer-owned business to an employee-owned cooperative. The guide includes conversion models, case studies, and sample documents for a cooperative conversion in California.
“A Guide to Worker Coop Conversion Investments” and “Addressing the Risk Capital Gap for Worker Coop Conversions” explain and detail to potential investors the range of options for investing directly or indirectly in worker-owned cooperatives, especially in the context of worker coop conversions. The papers describe worker cooperatives and worker coop conversions including how financial statements are different and how deals are structured. The papers also address how to attract more financing for worker cooperatives including through raising the profile of worker cooperative conversions, standardizing and impact metrics, and assuring quality technical assistance. Authors: Alison Lingane, Project Equity and Annie McShiras, Self-Help Federal Credit Union.
A research report highlighting strategies, creating cooperative ecosystems which address economic development
Conducted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, it is the first national, cross-sector, mixed-methods study on governance practices among US cooperatives.
Overview of childcare industry, types of childcare co-ops, and the ecosystem to support childcare co-ops. Examples are specific to California but applicable nationally.
Results of 2021 survey of US cooperatives on their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices
Research finds a wide array of Latinx co-ops in the US, with a cluster of co-op activity in New York City and within the worker co-op and credit union sectors.
Classic 2011 overview of cooperatives with two or more membership classes
“Beginning the Cooperative Journey Together: A Guide to Indigenous Community Cooperative Development” by the Minnesota Indigenous Business Alliance was written with the understanding that Native Americans engaged in cooperative practices and collective ownership throughout their history. Many Native Americans see their relationship with the world as an interdependent one. This worldview dovetails with the cooperative vision of working collaboratively toward self-sustainability and self-determination. While the publication provides information on western cooperative practices, it emphasizes that the creation of new Indigenous cooperatives likely requires an approach that comes from Native American history and mentors, may not involve formal business incorporations, and in fact may be a means of decolonization.
The Sustainable Economies Law Center wrote this guide to provide step-by-step procedures for attorneys advising worker cooperatives organized under California law, but the guide has information that is useful in other states. SELC publishes legal guides addressing a number of types of cooperatives and cooperative issues on its website. Some guides are in Spanish. Contributing authors include Alex Glancy, Allison Curtis, Brett Heeger, Hasmik Geghamyan, Jennie Msall, Jonathan Ward, Kelsey Jae, Kim Arnone, Neil Aaron Helfman, Sam Gray, Sarah Kaplan, and Van Baldwin
This publication by the ICA Group describes how worker cooperatives are financed including how internal capital accounts for workers are structured. Additionally the publication addresses worker cooperative losses, how to retire or terminate membership, dissolving the worker cooperative, and taxation of a worker cooperative.
Insights and readiness factors for owners and employees
Comparison of long standing and more recent conversions
Guide for interacting with labor unions when converting existing businesses to worker co-ops or organizing start-up co-ops; includes seven case studies
State and local policy recommendations to facilitate resident purchase of manufactured parks
Detailed analysis by the National Consumer Law Center on policies to facilitate resident ownership of manufactured housing parks
Case study about the shared services cooperative providing access to goods and services across remote First Nations villages in northern Canada
Case study about a 40+ year old worker cooperative in the engineering industry
Examination of cooperative ecosystems that promote widespread economic democracy in northern Italy