CooperationWorks!

Programs

CooperationWorks! offers professional development training courses and certification, a national conference, networking opportunities, and joint ventures between centers.

Professional Development Training
This highly successful training course provides critical instruction in all aspects of cooperative development to new practitioners in the field. Three days of training sessions address the legal, business, and organizational aspects specific to cooperatives. Those who complete the course can support a cooperative development project from inception through feasibility analysis, incorporation, business planning, membership development and start-up. Participants may enroll in individual sessions. Registration is open to anyone interested in cooperative development.

Networking
CW organizes bi-monthly conference calls, regional discussions, and meetings to increase center capacity and build productive linkages that help centers benefit the communities they serve.

Joint Ventures
Members collaborate on funding sources and business strategies for new ventures that replicate nationally strategies that have proven effective in one state or region. CW centers have facilitated multi-state cooperative business development in livestock, natural foods, cooperative housing and sustainable forestry.