UW Center for Cooperatives

10/02/2026

The childcare crisis is straining rural communities — creating business disruptions, reducing access to affordable quality care, and causing burnout for childcare workers. Join the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Services for a webinar on the childcare crisis. Drawing on eight months of firsthand research, this presentation will share ways rural communities and employers have addressed childcare gaps through collaboration, advocacy, and the cooperative model.

These webinars are free and open to all:
Cooperative Childcare Solutions – Iowa
Thursday, October 15, 12-1 pm CT

Cooperative Childcare Solutions – Minnesota
Thursday, October 22, 12-1 pm CT

Cooperative Childcare Solutions – Wisconsin
Thursday, October 29, 12-1 pm CT

While each webinar is state-specific, key takeaways are consistent across the Upper Midwest.

Register: https://uwcc.wisc.edu/cooperative-childcare-solutions-webinars/

09/24/2026

Check out the latest from the UW Center for Cooperatives! This newsletter highlights new research on worker cooperatives and worker well-being, Timber Professionals Cooperative, and upcoming events! Read here: https://explore.wisc.edu/uwcc_Sept_2026

09/14/2026

Are your new employees ready to tell the co-op story?

The UW Center for Cooperatives invites Wisconsin cooperative employees to join Cooperative Roots: Understanding the Co-op Model, Difference, and Identity.

Through two live, interactive webinars, participants will explore: • The cooperative model and co-op identity
• Cooperative values and principles
• Why people choose cooperatives
• Benefits for members, customers, and communities
• What makes cooperatives different from other businesses

This training is a great introduction for employees who are new to the cooperative sector and want a stronger understanding of how co-ops create value and impact.

📅 October 14 & 21, 2026
💲 $75 per participant
📝 Registration closes September 25, 2026
🔗 Learn more and register: https://uwcc.wisc.edu/training-new-employee/

Please share with your team and cooperative networks!

07/21/2026

Great opportunity for Milwaukee area business owners considering retirement. If you're thinking about what comes next for your business, you're not alone. More Wisconsin business owners are exploring employee ownership as a succession strategy that can preserve their legacy, reward their employees, and keep businesses rooted in their communities.

Join us for a FREE Lunch & Learn on August 20 in Milwaukee for an owner-focused conversation about:

✅ Why employee ownership is gaining momentum in Wisconsin
✅ How employee ownership works as a business succession option
✅ Signs it might be the right fit for your company
✅ Resources available to help you explore the transition

Whether retirement is right around the corner or still years away, now is the time to learn about your options.

📅 August 20
📍 Milwaukee, WI
🥪 Free lunch provided

Reserve your spot today and start exploring what the next chapter could look like for you, your employees, and your business.

https://businessentrepreneurship.zohobackstage.com/SuccessionPlanningLunchandLearn

07/01/2026

There's still time to register for next week's Cooperative Communicator's Virtual Workshop hosted by Cooperative Network! See details below!

Registration is under way for Cooperative Network’s 2026 Cooperative Communicators Virtual Workshop, scheduled Wednesday, July 8, 9 a.m.-noon. Workshop attendees will hear how the Wisconsin Beef Council has worked to build consumer trust and drive demand for beef through innovative, integrated marketing and education efforts; discover actionable strategies for creating compelling podcast content; and learn strategies and tips for creating authentic, high performing social media video content, including how to effectively use video tools that utilize AI. Agenda/registration: https://cooperativenetwork.coop/event/2026-cooperative-communicators-virtual-workshop/

03/24/2026

We’re proud to be part of statewide efforts to strengthen Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The latest announcement from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation highlights how partners across the state are working to build Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial base, supporting new business development, expanding access to technical assistance, and creating more opportunities for locally rooted enterprises to thrive.

At the UW Center for Cooperatives, we know cooperatives are a vital part of that ecosystem. Co-ops help entrepreneurs start businesses, keep wealth in their communities, and create shared ownership models that strengthen Wisconsin’s economy for the long term.

Read the full release:

WEDC Small Business Technical Assistance Grants will support organizations assisting startups, small businesses statewide MADISON, WI. MARCH 23, 2026 – Twenty organizations that support Wisconsin entrepreneurs through technical and financial assistance have been awarded nearly $2 million in the in...

03/19/2026

We were honored to facilitate a session at the recent Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative - RWHC board retreat, bringing members together to explore how they can best support one another in a changing rural healthcare landscape. Their dedication and creativity is inspiring!

03/18/2026

✨ Latest from the UW Center for Cooperatives ✨

This month we’re highlighting:
🛠️ Dendroyka, Wisconsin’s newest worker co‑op
🎓 Our 2026 Graduate Student Scholarship awardees
🤝 CCMA 2026 in Tacoma (May 28–30)
🏡 A new home care worker co‑op in Bayfield County
📜 Progress on employee ownership legislation in Wisconsin

Cooperatives continue to build community wealth through democratic ownership.

👉 Read the full newsletter:

🔗 https://explore.wisc.edu/UWCC_2026_march

12/18/2025

The UW Center for Cooperatives December newsletter is available!

This issue includes:

* A tribute to Margaret Bau and her contributions to the cooperative movement
* Highlights from the 2024 Cooperative Governance Research Initiative report
* An update on new rural cooperative development funding
* Upcoming events, resources, and opportunities for co-op leaders and practitioners

Read the full newsletter here: https://explore.wisc.edu/UWCC_2025_dec