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Celebrating CO-OP Month

Article published on Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Did You Know? - Facts About Cooperatives

CO-OP MonthCo-ops' commitment to their communities stems from their organization as member-owned and member-controlled businesses. Being owned largely by people who live and work in the communities they serve gives cooperatives a different perspective from businesses owned by distant investors. Key advantages to the cooperative form of business include:

  • Co-ops are motivated to serve their members, not outside investors. That means they must also serve the communities in which their members live and work.
  • Investor-owned businesses also generate jobs and make charitable contributions in their communities. But for co-ops it's a critical part of what they do and why they do it.
  • At a time of increasing concern about the national economy, co-ops are creating jobs, income and opportunity in their communities every day. A study by the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business found that South Carolina's electric co-ops help create, directly or indirectly, almost 5,300 jobs.
  • Unlike some investor-owned businesses, cooperatives won't move their operations offshore to increase profits.
  • Since co-ops are owned largely by people who live and work in the communities they serve and are formed to serve their needs and interests, they are not likely to desert the locations in which their members live and work.

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