UPDATES: City of Olympia Joins Year of Cooperatives by Maureen Tobin, Staff member
In another exciting step recognizing the importance of cooperatives in our local and global economy, the Olympia City Council unanimously proclaimed 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives, following along with the United Nations Designation. The proclamation, approved during the city council’s special meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, was accepted on behalf of our local cooperatives by John A. McNamara, Co-Director of the Northwest Cooperative Development Center. The proclamation recognizes the cooperative model as a tool for sustainable development, inclusive economic growth and social empowerment, especially for women, people with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and communities of color.
“Cooperatives offer a valuable model for business succession, allowing employees and community members to assume ownership and management, thereby preserving business viability, local jobs, andcommunity values during periods of transition,” the proclamation states. Other important parts of the proclamation support the values of the United Nation’s declaration, including mention of supporting business succession and preserving jobs. It also highlights research showing cooperatives retain workers longer than traditional businesses due to their provision of higher wages, more flexible working hours, better benefits, and greater responsiveness to employee needs and the evolving workplace.
McNamara talked about cooperative stories such as the Blue Heron Bakery, which transitioned to worker and community ownership with support from City of Olympia, the Northwest Cooperative Development Center and Olympia Food Co-op members. The presentation also highlighted the number of credit unions and worker and consumer coops in almost every sector in Olympia. And that The Evergreen State College offers the only certificate in cooperative development in the entire country, further solidifying our community’s role in advancing cooperative education and innovation.