Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative

Programs: Fiscal sponsorship of our harvest cooperative. Our harvest cooperative is a nonprofit cooperative association which was launched by cuci and incorporated in 2012. Cuci serves as a fiscal sponsor of the cooperative under "grant model" fiscal sponsorship. During fiscal year 2016-2017, our harvest expanded a fresh food access program, employed 15 people, 11 of whom are year-round. This past year, ohc continued food hub processing operations in the freestore food bank's warehouse, expanded food access work to new neighborhoods and served as the practicum site for cincinnati state's sustainable agriculture management program as well as the lab space for cultivate's apprenticeship program.

apple street market initiative. During fiscal year 2016-2017, grocery community organizing efforts led to over 1200 community owners for apple street. Since opening the store is taking longer than expected, apple street has begun selling staples at cost at the northside farmers market and in working in neighborhoods in south cumminsville to increase food access in the neighborhood.

co-op education & culture building. During this fiscal year we finalized the worker owner workbook, facilitated weekly team meetings and retreats with our co-op workers and boards, developed much of the curriculum for co-op u for new co-ops development, coordinated curriculum development for the 4-semester community college 1worker1vote. Org co-op curriculum. We spoke at conferences and events around the country as well as at local gatherings and helped support the development of greater dayton union co-op initiative and gem city market.

manufacturing conversions. We began a focus helping retiring owners transition their companies to worker ownership. Initially, we are focusing especially on manufacturing companies and began working with our first three companies. We developed partnerships with public and private entities in the economic development ecosystem. With the support of an extroardinary consultant volunteer from harvard we developed an innovative model for industrial services and manufacturing conversions to worker-ownership.