With the 2019 Democratic presidential candidates facing off in a series of televised debates tonight and tomorrow night, this week is another great opportunity to ask both Democratic and Republican candidates to recognize the cooperative business model as a tool for the economic success and self-determination of their constituents.
We published an open letter last month that details why cooperatives should be on the policy platform of every 2020 Presidential candidate.
To help raise awareness of the letter and get more candidates on board, we encourage you to participate in our #CoopsFor2020 campaign by asking your local newspaper to publish the open letter. During a contentious election season, #CoopsFor2020 is an opportunity to embrace a nonpartisan issue every voter and every candidate can rally around: using cooperatives to build stable, sustainable businesses and communities.
Customize our sample letter template, or craft your own message like Co-op Weekly reader Shirley Aldana did.
After submitting your letter, help keep the momentum of the #CoopsFor2020 Campaign going all summer long by attending town halls or other campaign events 2020 Presidential candidates hold in your region. We’ve put together a list of sample questions you can ask your elected officials to get them thinking about co-op economic impact.
If you attend a town hall or other campaign event and ask a question about cooperatives, let us know! Send a note to advocacy@ncba.coop so we can help spread the word.
Worker Ownership
Over the next five to 15 years, Baby Boomers who own businesses will be looking to retire, but more than 50 percent of owners have no succession plan to keep the businesses going. Forming a cooperative business ensures that these anchor businesses can continue to thrive. What steps do you plan to take to ensure that workers and community members who rely on these businesses have the resources—including access to capital and technical assistance—to form a cooperative?
Senior Care
As more seniors choose to age at home, home care providers are the fastest-growing workforce. Yet in franchises, these workers experience an annual turnover over 80 percent due to unpredictable work schedules, low wages and little job satisfaction. As a cooperative and co-owner of the business, home care providers have higher pay, more reliable schedules and, as a result, an annual turnover rate below 30 percent. What steps are you going to take to support this proven business model?
Affordable Housing
Our nation is facing an affordable housing crisis, both in renting and home buying. Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives create a stable, sustainable housing environment for low-income community members that improve economic, health and educational outcomes in adults and children. How do you plan to incorporate housing cooperatives in your policy solution to address the affordable housing crisis?