Who Benefits?

The primary beneficiaries are the member-owners of the business. Cooperatives that employ former welfare recipients as does New York City Cooperative Home Health Care Associates or the "hard to employ" such as Baltimore's SSC Employment Agency (see Tool In Action), provide important opportunities for low-income/low-wealth residents to build financial security and stability. In disinvested areas, the community derives benefits from the co-op to the degree that the enterprise supports local revitalization and business development; creates jobs in areas of high unemployment; and serves members and includes residents as member/owners.