Last week in Madison, Wisconsin, three dynamic and productive meetings were held relating to cooperative development. From October 21 – 25, CooperationWorks! delivered the first session in their Co-op Developers Training series, “The Steps to Start a New Cooperative Business.” This session covered the skills and key development steps necessary for the successful development of a cooperative businesses. The included interactive sessions, case studies, and tours to local co-ops to detail the practical applications of the developmental steps and methodologies.
On Wednesday, October 23, CooperationsWorks! and NCBA CLUSA co-hosted a summit for cooperative developers to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Cooperative Development Centers. Among the topics addressed was a vibrant discussion around a unified national strategy and sustainable funding. Many of the meeting outcomes will be addressed at the NCBA CLUSA’s 2013 Annual Cooperatives Conference on November 12-14 in Washington, DC.
