Community Wealth Building (CWB) is an approach to economic development that promotes the local, democratic, and shared ownership and control of community assets. We will serve as the ‘hub’ for Research & Convening. We will collaborate with other grantees, partners, and ecosystem players to establish a community of practice, a flexible model for strengthening CWB ecosystem relationships, building capacity, expanding resources, and deepening Chicago’s infrastructure in four primary areas – Worker Cooperatives, Limited-Equity Housing Cooperatives, Community Land Trusts, and Community Investment Vehicles.

This article examines the emergence of cooperative cities, municipalities creating enabling environments for worker-owned cooperatives through legislation, budget initiatives, and institutional practices explicitly fitted for cooperative enterprises.

This report examines the challenges and opportunities of worker cooperatives in the Chicagoland region. The paper discusses the need for worker cooperative development in Chicago, the current barriers cooperatives face to operating, and potential suggestions for local policy aimed at creating policies which would enable worker cooperatives to thrive. Supporting worker cooperative development could bring numerous advantages already proven in comparable cities – including growth of jobs, wages, and economic opportunity.

This report was produced through a partnership with Illinois Worker Cooperative Alliance (IWCA) and the Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC Law.

The Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic at UIC Law represents worker-owned cooperative business, non-profit, or small business that operates for the benefit of an underserved community.

Co-Directors Stacey Sutton and Renee Hatcher are on the City of Chicago’s Community Wealth Building Advisory Council. Alongside 18 other community leaders, researchers, and practitioners, they are serving as vocal champions and ambassadors of this policy initiative.