Cooperatives are already a significant part of the U.S. economy. More than one in three Americans belongs to a co-op, and across sectors—from finance and agriculture to energy, housing and childcare—cooperatives are helping people meet shared needs and build stronger local economies.
Yet despite their reach and proven impact, co-ops remain one of the country’s most underutilized tools for economic development.
In a recent opinion piece published by RealClearMarkets, NCBA president and CEO Doug O’Brien argues that closing this awareness gap could unlock new opportunities for communities across the country.
“Imagine if communities facing disinvestment had both the resources and the knowledge to deploy co-ops as a strategy for rebuilding?” O’Brien writes. “Imagine if more Americans recognize that they could not only participate in the economy, but own a piece of it?”