The September convening of the USFWC’s Policy and Advocacy Council was jam-packed. Here’s a few updates from our meeting full of old and new attendees:
- Santa Clara City Council is getting things done! Their Economic Development, Communications, and Marketing Committee is proposing seed money for the next budget in support of worker cooperative education, outreach, and training, in addition to a resolution to support worker cooperatives in City Council and $100,000 in seed money. One more city that’s moving forward to support worker co-ops!
- We continue to encourage businesses and organizations to sign on to the coalition letter to the SBA in response to their disappointing report on solutions for the personal guarantee requirement on SBA products in the event that the owner(s) of a business cannot repay the loan. The shared ownership structure of a cooperative business makes this requirement nearly impossible to fulfill and this report did not provide solutions — we ask that members sign on so that we can push for a real solution!
- NYC NOWC’s Co-op Advocacy Council just added 5 new members, representing the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, growing their policy-oriented
- The Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus is back in action, thanks to the hard work of our partner NCBA CLUSA and many of our members!
- There will be a Policy Day during the Union Co-ops Symposium Nov 14, and the USFWC is working with the Cincinnati Union Co-op Initiative to organize a day of advocacy with local officials.
The Council is gearing up for its next Policy and Advocacy webinar, focused on getting SBA and SBDC folks up-to-date on what worker co-ops are and our nationwide traction since the passing of the Main Street Employee Ownership Act.
Are you interested in learning more about worker co-op policy and how to advocate for your business? Join our monthly calls.
Are you coming to Baltimore for ECWD, or do you live in the Washington D.C. area? We invite you to join us for our first Hike the Hill day on October 17th. Register your interest here – space is limited.
