Co-Operatives and Economic Development (CAED)

Community-Owned Solutions for Community Challenges

Some community challenges are difficult to solve through traditional business models, government programs, or non-profit organizations alone. Co-operatives offer a practical alternative by bringing people together to pool resources, share ownership, and create solutions that meet local needs.

Co-operatives & Economic Development (CAED) is an optional course designed for economic development practitioners who want to understand how co-operatives can be used as a tool for community economic development. The course explores when the co-operative model is the right fit, how co-operatives support local economic development goals, and the role economic developers can play in helping communities explore and develop community-owned solutions.

Participants will learn how co-operatives can address challenges such as business succession, housing, childcare, broadband, community infrastructure, investment attraction, and local service delivery. The course also provides practical guidance on identifying opportunities, engaging stakeholders, supporting start-up development, and connecting communities to resources and expertise.

Whether your community is looking to preserve essential services, mobilize local investment, strengthen community capacity, or create new economic opportunities, CAED provides practical tools and insights to help turn local challenges into community-owned solutions.

This is an optional course within our Community Economic Development Certificate Program co-developed with Co-operatives First.   

LEARNING OBJECTIVES