Throughout the month of May, we’ve continued honoring May Day—International Workers’ Day—by celebrating the dignity of labor and the collective power of working people. And what a powerful time it is to be doing this work!
In this International Year of the Cooperative, momentum is building across Greater Cincinnati. We’re preparing for our upcoming Ohio Solidarity Tour and Co-op Fest, a vibrant day to celebrate our cooperative community and the future we’re building together.
This month, we were thrilled to be featured in a national case study released by Seed Commons spotlighting Co-op Cincy’s impact. Cincinnati City Council issued a proclamation recognizing the Year of the Co-op and uplifted our work with inspiring words. And we stood alongside the City’s Office of Environment & Sustainability and the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce at a press conference to release our Green Workforce Analysis, which has already begun to generate exciting press coverage.
Read on for details and ways you can stay connected and inspired as we continue building a cooperative economy that works for all.
We’re thrilled to share that last week, Cincinnati City Council officially passed a resolution recognizing the UN International Year of the Cooperatives—uplifting co-ops as a powerful strategy for building local economic resilience, equity, and community wealth!
This is a huge moment for the cooperative movement in our city. Cincinnati is now just the third city in the country to make such a proclamation, joining a growing national chorus that recognizes the transformative potential of cooperative economics.
As one attendee shared, "It was powerful to see our City Leaders pass this resolution recognizing the UN-declared Year of the Co-op... our workers did an amazing job explaining what a difference being a worker-owner has made in their lives, and from the comments of our Vice Mayor and Council members, you could tell our elected officials really got it!"
A heartfelt thank you to Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney for championing this resolution, and to all of our friends and allies who showed up at City Hall to stand in support of cooperatives. Your presence and voices made a difference—and this is just the beginning. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Read the proclamation here
National Spotlight: Seed Commons Releases Case Study on Co-op Cincy! 📖
We’re honored to be featured in a brand-new Seed Commons case study highlighting our work to build a resilient, inclusive, and cooperative economy right here in Cincinnati!
Titled “Building a Cooperative Economy in Cincinnati,” the case study dives into our journey—how we’ve supported the launch of over a dozen worker-owned businesses, raised millions in capital, and created pathways to ownership for historically underserved communities.
It’s a powerful testament to what’s possible when people come together to build an economy rooted in solidarity, dignity, and shared prosperity.
👉 Read the full case study here: Building a Cooperative Economy in Cincinnati
We’re proud to be part of the national Seed Commons network, and even prouder to lift up the incredible workers and co-ops in our region who are showing what a better economy looks like in action.
New Report Highlights Green Workforce Opportunities in Cincinnati 🌱
Earlier this month, we were proud to stand alongside the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability and the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce at a press conference announcing the release of a major new report on our region’s green workforce.
Commissioned by Co-op Cincy and OES, the report aims to provide a clear view of the region’s green jobs landscape, with a particular focus on job quality, education, skills, work experience, gaps, and workforce barriers. This 100-page, data-driven analysis dives deep into the current landscape of green jobs in Cincinnati—and what it will take to grow a more inclusive, climate-resilient economy. The findings are clear: with the right investments, the green sector holds tremendous potential for equitable job creation and long-term community sustainability.
What’s especially exciting is that this sector is primed for worker ownership and cooperative models. Broadening ownership in the green economy isn’t just about equity—it’s a powerful strategy for retaining skilled workers, inviting new ones in, and anchoring wealth in our communities. From solar installation to energy efficiency and beyond, the green industry offers multiple opportunities to create sustainable, worker-owned jobs through efforts like our developing Shared Services Cooperative.
We’re honored to be part of this powerful collaboration and committed to continuing our work to ensure that green jobs are good jobs—for everyone.
📊 Read the full report here: 2025 Cincinnati Green Workforce Report (PDF)
Co-op Cincy Co-Director Kristen Barker Featured on WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition 🎙️
Our Co-Director, Kristen Barker, recently joined WVXU’s Cincinnati Edition to discuss the future of green jobs in Greater Cincinnati. In the late-April episode, she shared insights on how cooperative models can drive equitable growth in the green economy, highlighting the importance of worker ownership and inclusive strategies in building a sustainable future.
Tune in to hear Kristen’s full conversation on how co-ops are shaping the region’s green workforce:
👉 Do green jobs have a rosy future in Greater Cincinnati?
Andy Bowling of Comp.Coop talks with GEO
Andy Bowling of comp.coop recently shared insights with Grassroots Economic Organizing about the innovative ways Cincinnati’s cooperatives are working together to strengthen our local economy. In the interview, Andy discusses how Co-op Cincy is fostering solidarity across industries—highlighting a profit-sharing initiative designed to bridge pay disparities among worker co-ops.
It’s a powerful look at how cooperation among co-ops is creating more equitable and resilient systems in our region. Read the full interview here: Cooperation Among Co-ops in Cincinnati.
Renting Partnerships Co-Director Featured in Community Housing Discussion 🏘️
Margery Spinney, Co-Director of Renting Partnerships, recently participated in LINK nky’s Community Conversation on housing. She shared insights into innovative housing solutions, including the Renting Cooperative model, which enables long-term renters to build equity and participate in cooperative management of their homes.
The discussion addressed Northern Kentucky’s pressing need for over 6,600 new housing units in the next five years and explored diverse strategies to meet this demand.
On Thursday, June 12, check out Margery Spinney in conversation at Kenton County Public Library, “Solving NKY's Housing Crisis”. Register here
