Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
We hosted our second webinar on the business model canvas for our Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Fellowship. Afterwards, our fellows worked in pairs to shape their organization's business model canvases. All 12 fellows attended and completed their canvases. Our fellows worked in pairs to shape their organization's business model canvases. We also continued shaping the agenda, preparing speakers, and planning logistics for our in-person retreat in March where fellows will learn about DAWI's cooperative development framework, learn from local cooperative developers, and discuss how they can strengthen the cooperative ecosystem. At the February 7th CWB worker cooperative working group meeting, our Metrics and Impact Analyst hosted an office hour for grantees to answer questions about reporting, and walkthrough the data collection templates we created for the initiative. 40 phase 1 and phase 2 grantees attended the office hour session. At the same CWB working group meeting, our Director of Business Transitions outlined our ecosystem education webinar series for business service providers, capital providers, and professional TA providers. He also presented on two matchmaker events planned for late spring and early summer which will provide an opportunity for cooperatives and cooperative developers to meet with service providers and secure TA, financing, and/or other business service support. We sought feedback on the design and content of the webinar series and matchmaker events; participants were supportive of our plans.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
None
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
In preparation of tax season, we offered a tax preparation workshop hosted by our sister organization, the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, designed for cooperatives structured as LLCs. The free workshop included a brief update about the Corporate Transparency Act and how it affects co-ops.
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
No
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
Our Director of Business Transitions met with several business service providers to introduce worker ownership and the broader CWB initiative as well as secure interest in the upcoming webinar series and matchmaker events. We strengthened and/or established 4 new Chicago-based relationships included: Chicago Community Loan Fund, Gold Coast Bank, SEED Commons/IL Worker Cooperative Alliance, and members of the city's Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI).
Did you collaborate with other TA providers in the last reporting period?
Yes
Which TA provider(s) did you work with?
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
Ecosystem education: Worker Cooperative Webinar Series: #2 Finance and Funding (scheduled for mid- April). Co-shaping webinar content: - Provide an audience-tailored look at worker-cooperative financing and funding support through case study storytelling. - Intake/referral sources - Type of lending/funding provided - Tools and resources used
Did you attend the Working Group meeting last month?
Yes
How would you rate the usefulness of the working group to your project last month? (on a scale of 1-5)
5 extremely useful
Optional Space
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
| Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
|---|---|
| Austin | 1 |
| Englewood | 2 |
| Logan Square | 2 |
| Lower West Side | 1 |
| Near West Side | 2 |
| South Chicago | 1 |
| South Deering | 1 |
| Uptown | 1 |
| Woodlawn | 1 |
Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)
Other Race/Ethnicity (please specify)
2 Hispanic that preferred not to state race or chose Other, 1 American Indian or Alaskan Native
Gender identity of Participants (select all that apply)
Age Range of Participants (select all that apply)
How many sessions of one-on-one consulting to Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. one group or individual with one training provider)?
0
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
3
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
3
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
10
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
How many jobs were created overall last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
Please list the Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers Organizations you worked with this reporting period.
Other organization (please specify):
Center for Changing Lives, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, Chicago Community and Workers Rights, Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem at UIC, ChiCommons LWCA, Co-Op Ed Center, Earthseed Native Landscaping & Edible Gardens LWCA, Kola Community Solutions, The K
What type(s) of Technical Assistance did you provide to Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers this reporting period? Select all that apply.
Did you provide education to any Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers this reporting period?
No
What are the greatest needs that your WC clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?
None
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
Cooperative fluent accountants and bookkeepers; cooperative fluent business service providers (e.g. business planning), infrastructure to ensure that this support continues to be provided beyond the CWB funding timeline
Please share any direct testimonials from Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:
See testimonial video uploaded below
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?
Yes
Please describe the type(s) of organizations you supported (i.e. nonprofits, business service orgs, etc.)
Our Director of Business Transitions met with several business service providers to introduce worker ownership and the broader CWB initiative as well as secure interest in the upcoming webinar series and matchmaker events. We strengthened and/or established 4 new Chicago-based relationships included: Chicago Community Loan Fund, Gold Coast Bank, SEED Commons/IL Worker Cooperative Alliance, and members of the city's Local Industrial Retention Initiative (LIRI).
How many total organizations or entities did you support (that were not covered in the previous tabs)?
4
How many total hours of support did you provide to these organizations?
4
Please share any other relevant details about the support you provided these organizations:
