This program is underwritten by the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grant and brought to you at no cost.
Cooperative enterprises are successful and common business models playing a vital role in our local communities. Whether you are a current (or future) business owner, an economic development professional, or just interested in learning more about cooperatives, this session is for you. The program will compare and contrast various business models.It will also place special emphasis on cooperation in the local food sector. You will have the opportunity to talk with people who have actually worked with successful co-ops.Clear answers to the following questions will be provided:
Basic Cooperative Topics
What are Cooperatives, who owns them, how do they function, how they are established
Strengths and weakness of Co-ops versus other business structures,
Common pitfalls of establishing a new Co-op business, and raising equity
Advanced Cooperative Topics
Governance, Co-op Culture, developing/maintaining leadership, and advanced finance issues
Concurrent Cooperative Tracks
Developing Co-ops – How to avoid the hurdles faced by many in developing new or growing cooperatives to have a broad range of success
Cooperation in the Food Community – Linking cooperative activities with producers and businesses that add value, such as commercial kitchens, to bring higher quality locally-grown food to consumers
June 2nd, 2011 , 10 am - Transitioning a Private Business to a Worker Co-op – Presented by Roy Messing of the Cooperative Development Center at Kent State University - Employee ownership in the cooperative model has typically been completed on a start up basis. Changes in Ohio Cooperative Law allowed Select Machine Company in rural Ohio to take ground breaking steps of transitioning a private business to a worker cooperative. This session will highlight the model used to make such a transfer a reality. Co-sponsored by the Business Succession Planning Program at Kent State University. (view recording below)
June 9th, 2011, 10 AM - Steps for Organizing a Worker Cooperative – Presented by Roy Messing of the Cooperative Development Center at Kent State University – Planning, Developing, and bringing a Worker Cooperative operational is no small undertaking. This session will provide the attendee with the basic steps necessary to help make the worker cooperative dream a reality. (view recording below)
Cooperative Webinar/Video Viewer
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Cooperative 
