Worker owners and cooperative development professionals gathered at the 2025 National Home Care Cooperative Conference.
(Photo: Sam Levitan c/o the Cooperative Development Foundation)
A Reflection on the Year of Cooperatives
In the spirit of prosperity, cooperation, and sustainable economic development, The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 to be the International Year of Cooperatives. The theme, “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” highlights how cooperatives “promote the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of local communities and all people… whose inclusion strengthens economic and social development, and contribute to the eradication of poverty and hunger.”
MCCD’s Shared Ownership team has hit the ground running in 2025 to support cooperative businesses across Minnesota, particularly those in the home and community-based services (HCBS) sector. Of the 27 worker-owned HCBS cooperatives in the United States, 5 of are based in Minnesota, supported by a unique, one-time, ARPA-funded grant program from the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS). Alongside this funding, MCCD has provided ongoing, no-cost specialized training to grant recipients on cooperative governance, business development, regulatory requirements, and financial management, supporting the leadership and ingenuity of worker owners with the technical knowledge necessary to successfully launch and sustain HCBS cooperatives.
Minnesota’s 5 HCBS cooperatives provide services to over 100 clients across 21 counties.
In an industry that suffers from high turnover, low pay, and limited career mobility, Minnesota’s HCBS cooperatives prioritize improving working conditions by giving caregivers control over workplace decisions, leading to better training, higher pay, increased engagement, and better worker retention. Agencies that are cooperatively owned pay their workers $2/hour more on average and have 30% employee turnover, a significant decrease from the industry average turnover of 79%. This is transformative not only for workers, but also for the health and wellbeing of communities across Minnesota; high quality, relationship and community-based homecare supports seniors and people with disabilities in leading dignified, self-determined lives.
To highlight Minnesota’s unique position in this sector, 4 of the state’s HCBS cooperatives, alongside MCCD’s Director of Shared Ownership Electra Skrzydlewski and Senior Shared Ownership Advisor Darren Mozenter, recently traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the National Home Care Cooperative Conference. With 27 home care cooperatives and over 100 cooperative development professionals in attendance, Electra, Darren, and 10 of Minnesota’s worker-owners spent 2 days listening to the stories of cooperatives from coast to coast while celebrating the innovation of America’s worker owners. Electra was thrilled to give a presentation focused on Minnesota DHS’s unique grant program targeted at the development of a state-level home care cooperative ecosystem.
MCCD’s Director of Shared Ownership Electra Skrzydlewski presenting at the 2025 National Home Care Cooperative Conference.
(Photo: Sam Levitan c/o the Cooperative Development Foundation)
Highlighting stories like Minnesota’s, says Electra, shows just how revolutionary the cooperative business model is for both direct care professionals and people receiving services. “When we come together, united by shared values and principles, we create the conditions for people to step into their power—both as individual leaders and as part of a growing movement. Together, we’re not just developing direct care businesses—we’re building people-powered cooperatives that are locally owned, democratically controlled, and deeply rooted in equity, fairness, and community. These co-ops have the power to transform the lives of caregivers and the people they serve.”
Get involved
Do you want to learn more about the power of the cooperative business model? Are you a small business owner or community group interested in exploring the cooperative model as a fit for your business or start-up?
MCCD’s Shared Ownership program supports the start-up and conversion of shared ownership businesses like cooperatives across the state through free technical assistance, training events, and a 4% loan fund. For more information, fill out our online client intake form or email our team directly.
Electra Skrzydlewski, Director of Shared Ownership: eskrzydlewski@mccdmn.org
Darren Mozenter, Senior Shared Ownership Advisor: dmozenter@mccdmn.org