Highlighting the challenges of a consumer-owned food co-op startup in Flint, Michigan, a new article published by ProPublica, “The Government is Here to Help Small Businesses—Unless They’re Cooperatives,” shows the barriers that remain in place for co-ops in accessing capital from SBA and technical assistance from the agency’s network of Small Business Development Centers.
The article also notes recent legislation led by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) to remedy the lack of access to capital available to co-ops. Learn more about the Capital for Cooperatives Act, and add your name to our organizational sign-on.