Co-op Month Highlights Impact Of Cooperatives (10/08/08)
Southern States is proud to join with co-ops all across America in celebrating Co-op month this October. This year’s annual celebration highlights the important contributions of cooperatives, including the economic impact of the nation’s cooperatives.
Cooperatives are committed to creating economic opportunities and enhancing quality of life in the communities in which their members live and work. America’s co-ops demonstrate their commitment to community by generating hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in income.
A series of case studies compiled by the National Co-op Month Planning Committee also revealed that cooperatives support local causes ranging from education to the environment. The 20-plus pages of case studies show that co-ops take a back seat to no other sector when it comes to making economic and charitable contributions to their communities.
Over 120 million members are served by cooperatives in virtually every industry and range in size from small storefronts to Fortune 500 companies. Despite this diversity, co-ops have some things in common. They are owned and democratically controlled by the people who use their services or buy their goods. They are motivated by service to their members, not by profit. These characteristics give co-ops an uncommon loyalty and commitment to the communities in which they are located.
Nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives account for as many as 300,000 jobs nationwide and a total payroll of more than $8 billion. Some 270 local, consumer-owned telecommunications cooperatives employ an average of 47 people each and generate more than $2 billion in revenues annually. In Minnesota alone, cooperatives of all types generate more than $10 billion in economic activity annually.
Every day co-ops like Southern States support local causes. The commitment of Southern States to community and educational programs, including scholarship programs and support of youth organizations such as FFA and 4-H is a testament to that support.
Cooperatives are member-owned enterprises; owned by the people who live and work in the communities they serve. That provides a different perspective from businesses owned by distant investors. For Southern States, community is not just where we work; it’s why we work
