Westchester cooperative network
COOPERATIVES
ARE THE
FUTURE
We promote and support
worker-owned cooperatives
Do you have a business idea? Are you willing to put in the time and effort to bring it to fruition? Can you gather a group of people to work together? We can help you find necessary training, legal assistance and financial support!
Our organization
Find out about our mission and what services we provide.
Take action
Ready to take the next step?
You can become a member of a worker cooperative and take control of your life!
Who we are
We are a collective of community members concerned about the increasing inequities in our society and inspired by the rich ecosystem of cooperatives growing worldwide. We see worker cooperatives as a mechanism to help local people move towards economic self sufficiency through self-determination.
Grant Alert
The Westchester Cooperative Network is accepting grant applications to support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives in Westchester whose business mission is aligned with the seven cooperative principles.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and evaluated based on the group’s needs and impact on its community.
To apply: download the form and email the completed application to info@westchestercooperative.net
A limited number of grants of up to $10,000 is available
Pillars
The 7 cooperative principles.
01
VOLUNTARY & OPEN MEMBERSHIP
Anyone can join a co-op—they don’t discriminate based on gender, social, racial, political or religious factors.
02
DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL
Members control their business by deciding how it’s run and who leads it.
03
MEMBERS' ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
All co-op members invest in their cooperative. This means people, not shareholders, benefit from a co-op’s profits.
04
AUTONOMY & INDEPENDENCE
When making business deals or raising money, co-ops never compromise their autonomy or democratic member control.
05
EDUCATION, TRAINING, INFORMATION
Co-ops provide education, training and information so their members can contribute effectively to the success of their co-op.
06
COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES
Co-ops believe working together is the best strategy to empower their members and build a stronger co-op economy.
07
CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY
Co-ops are community-minded. They contribute to the sustainable development of their communities by sourcing and investing locally.
Take advantage of the resources available in our ecosystem
Supporting
A set of National and Regional organizations for and about worker cooperatives! They support every aspect of their development, help to coordinate their activities and advocate for legislation favorable to them. View More
Training
Do you have at least one partner and a business idea, but don’t know how to make it happen?
Here you will find workshops and courses that will train and coach you through the process. View More
Library
A collection of documents and videos to learn on your own all you need to start a cooperative. View More
Financial
Looking for financial support? Here are several lenders that will provide the means for building your cooperative. View More
Legal
Writing the by-laws and legally registering your cooperative are usually difficult processes for those that don’t have legal expertise. These organizations specialize in giving you the legal support that you’ll need. View More
Business
Starting any business is hard and requires expertise. These organizations help you solve your business challenges. View More
Farming
The US has a long tradition of farmer cooperatives (ncfc.org). These organizations support the new generation of farming cooperatives. View More
Conversions
More than half the businesses in the US are owned by people over 55 years old. The next decade will see a “silver tsunami” of baby boomer retirements. Many of them would sell their business to their employees to form worker-owned cooperatives. View More