Join the Urban Institute on Tuesday, December 15 from 3:30-4:30 pm EST for a virtual event exploring how policymakers can help cooperatives build healthy, equitable and sustainable communities.
Moderated by NCBA CLUSA president and CEO Doug O’Brien, this conversation will feature Courtney Berner; Executive Director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives; Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund; and Brett Theodos, Senior Fellow and Director of the Urban Institute’s Community Economic Development Hub.
From bringing electricity to rural America to accessing financing and credit services for people with low incomes, cooperatives have addressed significant market failures and offer an inclusive model of employment and business ownership. But cooperatives can be disadvantaged by federal, state and local policy; more is needed to level the playing field and support and incentivize cooperatives to reach underserved people and communities. During this event, speakers will discuss guiding goals and specific policy objectives to advance this work.
Framing the conversation is a new report from the Urban Institute published by NCBA CLUSA and the Cooperative Development Foundation that outlines policy strategies to jumpstart cooperative development and expansion.