Economic impact of cooperatives
May 21st, 2009 by terry
Neighborhood kids
The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives recently completed the first phase of research to evaluate the economic impact of cooperatives. The findings: cooperatives account for approximately $654 billion in revenue, over 2 million jobs, $75 billion in wages and benefits paid and $133.5 billion in value-added income.
Because cooperatives are member owned, managed and governed, their entire purpose is to serve its members. Each community knows what it needs. Using the cooperative model, members would decide what they want and need and marshal the resources to create the solutions. New Community Vision’s goal is to partner with local community groups to host and facilitate monthly gatherings where the community brainstorms for solutions to common problems. There are resources within reach that are waiting to be tapped. The Lathe that Got Away illustrates a resource that could have made a substantial difference in both lives, had it been identified earlier.
Consider neighborhood diners. A bustling, friendly, safe, place to go for an affordable meal would anchor a neighborhood in a way that Starbucks and McDonald’s cannot fathom. Brainstorming Ideas is a partial list that I came up with. An eager community that rolls up its sleeves to shape and create its own future will have its own list, tailor made for its members.
