Support the development and sustainability of worker cooperatives by funding research and expanding access to worker cooperative education and technical assistance.

• Expand Public Funding for Co-op Support Organizations:  In NYC The Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI) has been providing funding to worker cooperative support organizations for the past 6 years.  This local initiative supports technical assistance providers and developers that have experience supporting worker cooperatives and are deeply rooted in low income POC communities.  For fiscal year 2022 the initiative should be maintained at $3,067,650.  In future years, the initiative should at least be restored to $3,609,000, the pre-COVID award, and even enhanced further so it can include more grassroots cooperative support organizations. 

• Support Worker Co-op Integration in the Existing Education Infrastructure: 

  • Support CUNY schools that are creating curriculum and certificate programs to train and educate about worker cooperatives.

  • Add to the K-12 educational guidelines a standard curriculum for civic engagement, cooperative economics and solidarity economy.

• Build awareness and knowledge about cooperative enterprises and high road employment approaches within workforce and business development training for youth and adult job seekers. Recognize NYC NOWC as the industry representative to certify and deliver industry-recognized worker training on cooperative enterprises.