Co-op Cincy and Delegation Members to Present to City Council
At the end of last month, we got back from visiting the Mondragon cooperative association in Spain.
Mondragon has always been our North Star, and we were thrilled to tour the association with a delegation of civic, business, philanthropic, and faith leaders from Greater Cincinnati and Dayton, as well as worker-owners from our own network of worker cooperatives.
Since being launched in 1956, Mondragon's network of cooperatives has been an engine for economic growth while giving the Basque region the lowest levels of poverty and economic inequality in Spain.
Today Mondragon employs 70,000 people in an association of 80 cooperatives, which range from a grocery chain to engineering and logistics firms. It's the 10th largest corporation in Spain, with sales in 150 countries.
So, what did we do during our visit? Besides enjoying some delicious food and wine, we
toured cooperatives in Mondragon's network
spoke with business and solidarity economy leaders
visited a campus of Mondragon University
Among the cooperatives we toured were Fagor Electronica, a semiconductor supplier, and Grupo Ausolan, an industrial catering company.
The business leaders we met with included Josean Yela, managing director of Eroski, a Spanish grocery chain with over 1,600 stores. We also heard from the dynamic Armin Isasti, founder of Saiolan (Mondragon's co-op incubator), and co-writer of an extraordinary book on one of Mondragon's founders, Jose Maria Ormaetxea.
Our tour was covered in the Cincinnati Business Courier, Movers & Makers, The Cincinnati Herald print edition, and other outlets.
In this 2 minute video, delegates reflect on the tour of the Mondragon cooperative association.
Key Takeaways
1. The cooperative model has the power to transform Cincinnati’s economy
The cooperative model may be unfamiliar to some in the U.S., but Mondragon demonstrates what’s possible when we embrace worker-ownership. Mondragon has transformed the Basque region, which has a similar population size as Greater Cincinnati. In addition, the conditions at Mondragon's founding (such as widespread polarization and inequality) are similar to conditions here.
2. We can build wealth by balancing the needs of people and business
In the Mondragon association, there’s an emphasis on balancing community needs (jobs, people) and business competitiveness (profits). Ten percent of each cooperative's profits goes toward the community.
3. Work is changing because of tech – and we can intentionally build our future economy
We can cultivate an economy of shared ownership and decision-making. We are on our way. In Greater Cincinnati, there are currently about 5,000 workers employed in businesses with 100% employee-owned ESOPS (employee stock ownership plans).
Next Steps
On Wed. May 31 at 12:30 pm, we (Co-op Cincy and members of the delegation) will give a presentation to the City Council in Council Chambers (Room 300) of City Hall about our visit to Mondragon.
We'll discuss how the city can support and fund the growth of worker-owned businesses in Cincinnati. We encourage you to join us and show your support!
Since 2011, Co-op Cincy has worked to nurture a network of worker-owned businesses through training, ongoing coaching, and loan access. Our network now includes 16 worker-owned businesses ranging from an energy efficiency and solar power business to an urban farm.
As a nonprofit, we are funded through grants and donations. You can donate today to help us support worker-owned businesses!
2023 Co-op Fest Scheduled for June 24
On Saturday June 24 from 4-6 pm, come celebrate with us at our annual Co-op Fest! You’ll meet our co-op teams, learn about their products, and connect with other people interested in the cooperative movement!
We’ll listen to music, eat delicious food, and hang out on Our Harvest's beautiful urban farm in College Hill. The farm address is 969 W. North Bend Road Cincinnati, OH 45224.
The food (and popsicles!) will be free. Register now so we can get an idea of attendance!
Join Us at 2023 Union Co-op Symposium
From Dream to Action: The Transformative Power of Co-ops, Labor, and Community
Our 6th biennial Union Co-op Symposium, From Dream to Action: The Transformative Power of Co-ops, Labor, and Community, will take place in-person on Oct 20 and Oct 21 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Symposium will focus on combining the best of the co-op and union movements to forge a new economy rooted in connection. The event will be dynamic and inspiring, waking us up to the possibilities of being networked in meaningful ways. Activities will highlight equity, labor, community wealth-building, and care for the earth and ourselves.
Sustainergy Wins Impact Award
Congrats to Sustainergy for winning the IMPACT Award from the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit!
The award recognizes significant and measurable sustainability impact that increases natural resource conservation with/for diverse audiences.
Cincy Cleaning Co-op Featured in UK Media
Cincy Cleaning Co-op was featured in the article "More than a paycheque: How can co-ops offer a better future of work?" in Co-op News.
Araceli Ortiz, a founding member, explained that the co-op's team of women worker-owners have been able to “find more stability by coming together as a collective."
Queen City Commons Brainstorms with Michigan Grad Students
Queen City Commons met with a group of MBA students from the University of Michigan.
The students are offering research-based insights to businesses as part of their graduate work.
Business Legacy Fund Presents to Multiple Chambers of Commerce
Chris Bennett, Acquisitions Manager for the Business Legacy Fund, presented "Leave an Enduring Legacy: The Benefits of Selling Your Business to Your Employees" to members of 6 Cincinnati-area Chambers of Commerce on 5/17.
After 2 successful acquisitions in 2022, the BLF is looking to acquire 3-4 businesses in 2023. The BLF helps business owners sell their companies to their workers.
Movement
From The Los Angeles Times: A podcast company goes employee-owned
Washington state has signed ambitious legislation supporting employee-ownership
