NCBA - National Cooperative Business Association
09/02/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/02/2025 18:17
Olympia, WA is latest city to declare 2025 the Year of Cooperatives
Northwest Cooperative Development Center Co-Director John McNamara accepted the Olympia City Council's proclamation declaring 2025 the Year of Cooperatives. He cited local successes, such as Blue Heron Bakery's transition to worker ownership and the city's high number of co-ops and credit unions serving more than 52,000 people.
Cooperators are leveraging the UN's spotlight on cooperatives to begin or expand regional commitment to worker cooperative enterprises, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) reports.
Olympia, WA has declared 2025 the Year of Cooperatives, joining five other U.S. cities recognizing the model's vital role in solving regional, national and global challenges. USFWC and NCBA member Northwest Cooperative Development Center led the effort, with the resolution passing Monday, August 4.
Olympia's Blue Heron Bakery, a USFWC member, transitioned to worker and community ownership with support from the City of Olympia and the NWCDC, according to The Journal of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater. Since converting, "The long-established business has grown significantly-adding nearly 25% more jobs and increasing its sales by 36%, demonstrating how cooperative conversions can both preserve and expand local employment," the journal reports.
But steep federal funding cuts threaten co-op development. States and cities must step up their investments to keep worker co-ops growing and thriving.
By declaring 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives, the UN offered the U.S. cooperative movement a rare opening: the power of global attention. At a time of deep political uncertainty and economic volatility, the world is searching for models of economic and democratic renewal. Cooperatives offer a path forward.
Olympia joins Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Anchorage, Pittsburgh and Meadville. With these resolutions, cooperators are leveraging the UN's spotlight on cooperatives to begin or expand regional commitment to supporting local worker cooperative enterprises.
Join the Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development for their kick-off on September 9
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Proposed Rule Impacting Home Care Cooperative Workers - Comments Due September 2nd
Ask your city or state to declare 2025 the Year of Cooperatives
The U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives is calling on cooperators nationwide to seize this moment to strengthen our ecosystems and to promote and advance worker co-ops. The USFWC is here to help. Email [email protected] if you are interested in spearheading this effort in your region.
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