We work primarily with worker-owned cooperatives, but also support other types of cooperatives such as hybrid (worker-consumer) and housing cooperatives.
Make use of our ongoing education and training opportunities. Existing co-ops can request technical assistance when they need support with governance, budgeting, financial systems, and a variety of other needs
Partner with us for help with business plans, financial projections, finding loans and investment, and designing governance systems
Make use of our ongoing education and training opportunities. Existing co-ops can request technical assistance when they need support with governance, budgeting, financial systems, and a variety of other needs
Partner with us to create co-op development initiatives in their communities, bringing people power and broad networks to the table where we meet them with the technical skills and knowledge needed to be successful in business.
Seek us out for collaboration on small business training, community economic development strategies for low-income workers, and procurement opportunities, connecting city contracts to community-based businesses
This principle is included on the international list of co-op principles for good reason.
Ongoing employee and member education is critical to the long term success of a co-op, to ensure that the members understand their rights and responsibilities, feel empowered to make changes to the co-op when needed, and have the knowledge they need to interpret the data and financial information they will have access to as co-op members.
BCCO offers customized, on-site training for your employees, members, and/or board. We also frequently partner with other organizations to offer training to their members, borrowers, and learners. We can provide annual or periodic trainings on subjects such as:
It’s easy to inquire about customized training for your co-op. Just use our contact form to send an inquiry, and we will schedule a time to discuss your training needs.
(If you are a W-2 employer in the state of Massachusetts, training may be subsidized through the Workforce Training Fund Program.)
In addition to customized training by request, we offer periodic scheduled workshops that are open to the public. Below please find a schedule of our upcoming workshops.
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BCCO regularly provides technical assistance to cooperatives and other small businesses that align with our mission.
Some examples of technical assistance:
Depending on the needs of the co-op, technical assistance could mean a commitment of a few weeks to several months, and could be a regular part of the calendar every year.
BCCO provides technical assistance on a fee-for-service basis, but funding to cover the cost is often available for specific groups. For example, the City of Boston On-Site Technical Assistance Program provides free support to co-ops located in economically disadvantaged areas of Boston, and the Mass Growth Capital Corporation supports TA for co-ops in Massachusetts, particularly those with owners from economically disadvantaged communities. We often have access to funding from one or both of these programs, and will be happy to discuss funding options with you.
In some cases, co-ops ask us for temporary or ongoing support with basic management functions such as:
We are happy to provide ongoing support services for an affordable price, whether the need is temporary or ongoing.
We are organizers in two ways: we facilitate the process for individual people to create and sustain cooperative businesses, and we help to organize the co-ops into a movement of co-ops, to help spread and strengthen this idea of economic democracy. We have been working closely with the US Federation of Worker Co-ops to establish a local chapter in Boston, and we’re also active in the Greater Boston Chapter of Co-ops, which brings together worker co-ops with other kinds of co-ops, such as housing and consumer co-ops…
We love the challenge of starting new co-ops from scratch. Many of our clients are motivated by their desire to create a workplace culture that is more inclusive and respectful of workers, and feel that new organizations are the best way to do that.
Starting new co-ops, just like starting any new business – is very challenging, and inevitably some that start will not succeed. However, we agree that startup co-ops, particularly those started by those who have been systematically denied economic opportunities in the past, present an opportunity to create economic structures that prefigure a more just, sustainable, and cooperative future.
When BCCO makes a commitment to a co-op startup process, we are ready for a long term (3-5 year) partnership. This level of commitment requires advance planning and fundraising, with responsibility shared between BCCO and the co-op or sponsoring organization. Our priority for startup incubation projects is for those initiated by workers who are Black, POC, immigrants, women or non-binary, and/or returning citizens.
Community based organizations: If you are thinking of helping your members create a worker-owned co-op, you will need a partner to supply the nuts and bolts information to make sure the process goes smoothly. For the greatest chance of success, get in touch early in your process. Our framework for co-op development can provide the structure your members need to create a successful business.
Those that have been through a startup process understand how much time, money, and effort go into creating a sustainable company. A business that has figured out how to provide a product or service at a price customers are willing to pay, while paying workers a liveable wage, is truly a valuable thing, and often worth sustaining past the retirement of its founder.
Our approach to co-op conversions emphasizes transparency, leadership development, and fairness for workers. Our goal is for the organization to be a source of stable employment for decades to come.
