Community and Economic Development

This guide explores the worker cooperative network as a neighborhood, municipal and regional strategy for generating wealth. It presents two examples: the well-established Mondragon Complex in Spain and the nascent Evergreen Cooperative Initiative in Cleveland Ohio. Drawing from these two cases the authors then put forth a general framework for building a scalable cooperative network in post-industrial American cities.

This publication reviews examples of sectoral strategies particularly those that are meeting the needs of low-income workers who face daunting challenges in the labor market. It advances the notion that the dual customer approach to workforce development - one that meets the needs of both the worker and employer - is the optimal approach. It addresses the concept that sound sector strategies can enhance the opportunity for the poor to find employment, retain employment and increase income, and make the nation's businesses more globally competitive.

This report defines and examines the role and existence of economic clusters as a factor in regional economic development. Emilia Romagna

This research report looks at the experience of community-based organizations that have undertaken sectoral employment development strategies, and attempts to define these strategies and assess their impact. It's purpose is is to spread the idea that the poor can participate in the competitive economy, to illuminate the practice of using a single industry or occupation to create jobs and economic opportunity for the poor, and to promote the concept that poverty alleviation is linked to economic development.