Happy Earth Day!

On April 22, we celebrated the environmental movement and the crucial efforts to achieve ecological sustainability.

As part of our celebration, we want to highlight some of the co-ops in our network that contribute to a more sustainable world.

We also have other exciting updates.

Our Harvest Marks 10 Years in Business!

Our Harvest, a local farm and the 1st co-op in our network, celebrated 10 years this month!

Our Harvest grows food responsibly on 12 acres, partners with other local growers, and develops innovative solutions to make healthy food widely available. They believe all people should have easy access to healthy food grown by fairly-compensated workers. And their regenerative agricultural model builds healthy soils and sequesters carbon.

Steve Dienger, Farm Manager and Worker Owner, reflected on Our Harvest's journey in a recent newsletter from Our Harvest.

"My, how time flies when you're having fun! Well, it wasn't all fun, but I will say that it has been the most meaningful endeavor I have ever taken part in," Steve wrote. "Thank you to all of you for supporting us during the hard times and the good times. We owe you a great debt of gratitude!"

Zeke Coleman, Senior Sales and Distribution Staff Member and Worker Owner, said in a phone interview that, if he had to explain what Our Harvest means to him in one word, it would be fairness. "We are treating the earth fairly and we are treating the people that work for and support the whole organization fairly."

Sustainergy Grows 50% in 2021

Sustainergy is the 2nd-oldest co-op in our network. Since 2014, they have been improving residential energy efficiencies and reducing carbon emissions in Greater Cincinnati. In 2021, their sales grew more than 50%, and they began their search for a New Market Director to expand into Dayton!

Queen City Commons Hits 125+ Home Drop-off Members

Queen City Commons provides food scrap collection and composting services, reducing landfilled waste and returning energy from food scraps to local food production. They recently reached 125+ residential drop-off members, received a grant to purchase a new vehicle, and were featured on Cincy Lifestyle and in CityBeat!

Course Alert: Apply Now for Next Power in Numbers

Co-op Business Boot Camp Helps Black-Led Teams

Beginning in September, we’re offering another Power in Numbers, our co-op business boot camp for Black-led teams!

The free, 14-week course helps Black-led teams of entrepreneurs work through the process of launching a co-op business and build wealth for the long term.

As a co-op business incubator, we support participants in the process and offer ongoing technical assistance after they launch their co-op business.

Applications are due by July 8 – apply today!

Other Updates

Co-op Cincy Requests Funding from City of Cincinnati

On April 4 a few of our staff members, co-op network members, and supporters made a request to the City of Cincinnati's Budget Committee.

We asked for financial support for our revolving loan fund, which aids and helps launch small cooperative businesses in Cincinnati, with a special focus on providing business ownership opportunities to people from underserved and historically marginalized groups.

Thanks to those who came out and to the Budget Committee members who listened to our request!

If you would like to support our request, please submit comments to the Budget Committee here! Select 'Budget and Finance' under 'Committee of Interest' and enter your comments in the 'Comments Box'. You can encourage the city to support co-op business development by financing our loan fund.

Cooperative Management Certificate Course Starts

This month we began our 2nd Cooperative Management Certificate course, which explores ways to align incentives and structure businesses in ways that make them profoundly accountable to workers, environments, and communities.

The 12-week course is offered in partnership with Xavier University Leadership Center.

Co-op Tours

Curious about our co-ops? We’re offering more free tours this year! To learn more and sign up, see this questionnaire. Upcoming co-op tour dates:

  • May 13 from 9 am-noon

  • Jun 10 from noon-3 pm

  • Jul 8 from 9 am-noon

Home Care for Those in Need

Want to provide home care for people with limited resources?

Donate now, and your gift will provide home care from A Touch of TLC Home Care. To make a donation, go to our Donate page, select an amount, and choose Donate. On the next page, select "Write a note," and enter "Home care." Then complete your donation.

Co-op Cincy in the News

More News

  • Check out this inspiring video from BBC News on how cooperative networks help forests thrive:

    • "By plugging into the fungal network, trees can share resources with each other. The system has been nicknamed the World Wide Web."

  • From Cincinnati CityBeat: The Vine Street Starbucks in Cincinnati became the first in the city to seek unionization.

  • Edible Ohio Valley ran an article on Guided by Mushrooms, a family-owned and operated mushroom farm in Dayton. In partnership with Co-op Dayton and with the help of Miami Valley SBDC, we’re excited to support Guided by Mushrooms as they transition to worker-ownership.

  • Via The City: Amazon workers successfully organized on Staten Island.

  • From Truthout: "We Need an Economy Without Bosses and Managers. Participatory Economics Is How."

  • Via Axios: Low pay and no advancement opportunities were top reasons people quit in 2021.

Resources

  • Ellen Vera, our director of development and co-op organizing, presented "A Union Co-op Model - Co-op Cincy 10 Years On" through CooperationWorks! Watch the webinar via YouTube.

  • Ellen also appeared on the Owners at Work Podcast with Jonathan Welle of Cleveland Owns. They talked about efforts to expand worker-ownership in Ohio! Listen here.

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