Grace in Action Collectives
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Co-op Development

From idea to a working cooperative.

GIAC supports groups through education, incubation, launch, and long-term cooperative growth.

Our offerings

Start with learning. Grow with support.

01 Co-op 101

A quick snapshot of worker ownership.

A 90-minute workshop that covers what a worker-owned cooperative is, the steps to starting a co-op, the co-op network, and how GIAC can support you in starting a worker-owned co-op.

General Co-op 101 sessions are offered quarterly. Industry-specific or group-requested sessions are offered upon request.

02 Co-op Academy

A six-week course for ready groups.

A six-week course for groups ready to begin exploring a worker-owned cooperative. The course includes co-op basics, shared vision, business planning, legal structures, governance, collective decision making, and more.

Co-op Academy is offered to groups of five or more who are ready to begin co-op incubation.

03 Incubation

Three years of continued support.

After Co-op 101 and Co-op Academy, GIAC offers continued incubation support for three years, including technical and facilitation assistance, marketing and business planning, industry research, feasibility studies, legal support, LLC and EIN registration, back office and tax preparation, and more.

Ask about Co-op 101

What is a co-op?

Workers own the business and the decisions.

A worker cooperative is a business owned and controlled by its workers, who are the members of the cooperative.

The two central characteristics are that workers own the business and participate in its financial success, and workers have representation through the principle of one worker, one vote.

GIAC model

A neighborhood-built development model.

Our model was built through nearly a decade of neighborhood conversations, strong work, and hard lessons. It mixes high-touch and low-touch cooperative development relationships based on what the community needs, what is financially sustainable, and what people are interested in.

  1. Pre-incubation

    Co-op 101

    Two-hour info session, potential member outreach, market research, and business viability.

  2. Phase 1 / 2 months

    Co-op Academy

    Shared vision, Business Model Canvas, governance, voting, conflict resolution, and popular education.

  3. Phase 2 / 3-6 months

    Cooperative Incubation

    Business structure, operating agreement, member policies and procedures, and feasibility study.

  4. Phase 3 / 9 months-2 years

    Cooperative Development

    Business formation, LLC and bank account, marketing strategy, back office, financial procedures, products or services development, customer service, and launch.

  5. Phases 4-5 / after 3+ years

    Cooperative Growth & Network

    Limited counseling services, shared coworking space, network membership, and referrals for technical assistance.

Co-op statistics

Worker ownership is a growing movement.

1,300+ worker-owned co-ops in the U.S.
13,000 estimated worker-owners in the U.S.
2:1 pay ratio between highest and lowest paid workers in worker co-ops
86% of worker co-ops had structures to quickly make decisions during COVID-19

* Worker Co-op State of the Sector, 2025, Democracy at Work Institute and U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.

** CEO pay has skyrocketed 1,322% since 1978, 2021 Economic Policy Institute.

*** Worker Co-ops: Weathering the Storm of COVID-19, U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.