November 21, 2025 9 am - 5 pm 1505 Eutaw Place Baltimore, Maryland 21217
Why We Must Act Now on Cooperative and Solidarity Business in Maryland Maryland stands at a pivotal moment in shaping an inclusive and resilient economy that truly serves its residents. Across our state, communities are searching for models that promote economic ownership, local wealth, and long-term stability — not just jobs, but shared prosperity. Cooperative and solidarity businesses represent a proven, community-driven strategy to achieve this vision. They keep profits local, prioritize democratic decision-making, and ensure that workers, consumers, and residents share both the risks and the rewards of enterprise. These models are not new, but deeply rooted in Maryland’s history of collective action — from Black mutual-aid societies and farmers’ cooperatives to neighborhood credit unions and worker-owned enterprises. What’s needed now is a deliberate statewide framework to strengthen and scale them.
Why Cooperative and Solidarity Enterprises Matter - Economic Inclusion: Cooperatives give workers and residents a direct stake in the economy, especially in historically disinvested and Black communities.
- Wealth Retention: Profits are recirculated locally rather than extracted by absentee owners.
- Workforce Stability: Worker-owned businesses have higher retention and resilience during economic downturns.
- Community Ownership of Assets: Housing co-ops, food co-ops, and community land trusts prevent displacement and stabilize neighborhoods.
- Public Accountability: Cooperative and solidarity models align closely with public-sector goals—transparency, shared governance, and social impact.
How Maryland Can Lead To grow cooperative and solidarity businesses statewide, Maryland’s state government agencies must move from support in principle to action in policy. Establish a Maryland Office of Cooperative and Solidarity Economy Development - Modeled after programs in New York City and Massachusetts, this office would coordinate cross-agency strategies, technical assistance, and funding to incubate cooperatives.
Integrate Cooperative Development into Existing State Programs - The Departments of Commerce, Labor, Housing and Community Development, and Agriculture can include cooperative enterprises in their small business, workforce, and rural development portfolios.
- Offer targeted grants and technical assistance for worker buyouts, housing co-ops, and local food cooperatives.
Leverage Procurement and Contracting Power - Encourage state agencies, universities, and hospitals to procure goods and services from cooperative and employee-owned firms, especially in underserved areas.
Invest in Education and Technical Assistance - Fund community colleges and HBCUs to provide cooperative business education, leadership training, and back-office support.
- Partner with NDCC and other cooperative intermediaries to expand statewide capacity.
Create State Financing Tools for Cooperative Enterprises - Establish a revolving loan fund or credit enhancement program through the Maryland Department of Commerce or a CDFI partner (such as Rochdale Capital).
- Support early-stage and worker-buyout capital using state seed funding.
Our Call to Action To build a just and sustainable Maryland economy, we must recognize cooperative and solidarity businesses as vital partners in community and economic development.
NDCC and its allies are calling for a statewide cooperative and solidarity ecosystem, backed by policy, education, and financing infrastructure — with a particular focus on Black-led and community-anchored enterprises. By integrating cooperative development into the state’s broader economic strategy, Maryland can: - Strengthen local ownership and resilience,
- Advance racial and economic equity, and
- Build a future where every Marylander has a stake in shared prosperity.
Register Below Today To Attend Maryland Regional Cooperative and Solidarity Convening
In cooperation and solidarity
Planning Committee Maryland Regional Cooperative and Solidarity Convening |
