Co-op Development Program

Are you looking to start an ethical business owned by the workers, where democratic governance and profit sharing is the norm? Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds works within an eco-system of support that includes mentors and allies  - Cooperative Development Institute, Berkshire Funding Focus, Coalition of Worker Owner Power, and Mass Solidarity Economy Network. Through that support system and our individualized bi-lingual co-op development staff, we walk groups through each stage of development - imagine, assess, governance, implementation, sustainability and growth! 

Monthly requirements include weekly individualized group meetings and monthly group classes. Equally important to each group's success is access to capital, which, aside from technical assistance, is the largest barrier for the teams we serve and organize alongside.  Co-writing grants is apart of each cooperatives strategy for a successful launch and is prioritized by Roots & Dreams co-op development staff and mentor Karen Pelto, Grant Specialist with Berkshire Funding Focus.  

Completing all the development stages can take some teams as long as five years. but we are committed to this process in order to ensure strong sustainable cooperatives. While our focus is worker cooperatives, other cooperative models like producer, consumer, and hybrid cooperatives may be the best fit to grow equity for members, and up to date two of our cooperatives have chosen the producer model!

​

As our network expands, and other vital solidarity economy eco-system programs grow, including our community own real-estate project, the de-commodification of food through increased food sovereignty, and the establishment of housing cooperatives, we are excited to see the way the larger network will support this growing cooperative business network and vice versa!  Surely, we are already seeing the fruits of all the co-organizing now!

​

Current cooperatives still recruiting member owners are Language Justice Solutions, Rose & Cole's Transport, and the Child Care Cooperative! Email us at contactus@rootsandmustardseeds.com to join a cooperative!