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NCBA Selects University of Wisconsin for Co-op Research Project
Washington, D.C.- The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) today praised the selection of the University of Wisconsin to oversee a major government research project on cooperatives, saying the university's work will close a data gap that has hampered the co-op community for decades.
The project, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will quantify the economic impact of cooperatives across all sectors. It will be the first community-wide co-op data collection effort in many years.
NCBA President Paul Hazen said the research will give co-ops "the same kind of data that other businesses take for granted." He said it will make it easier to advocate for co-ops on Capitol Hill and will help pinpoint how cooperatives are addressing major areas of national need, such as heath care, aging and housing.
"We haven't had anything approaching this kind of comprehensive research capacity since the Labor Department ceased tracking our sector in the 1950s," he said.
Hazen said the University of Wisconsin "is very well equipped to guide this work." Several other academic institutions are expected to be involved as subcontractors.
Working with Senators Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah), NCBA convinced Congress to appropriate $500,000 for the research project in 2005. A second $500,000 installment is likely to be approved this year.
Hazen thanked all those who helped NCBA win approval for the project, as well as those who supported the University of Wisconsin's application to be the lead organization doing the work.
Permanent Partnership
"We look forward to this evolving into a permanent partnership between cooperatives, the federal government and academics to quantify the economic contributions of all cooperatives on a continuing basis," Hazen said.
The university is already working on the scope of the project and will begin data collection in January. The initial phase of the work is to be completed no later than the fall of 2008.
Cooperatives are democratically owned and controlled businesses that are motivated by service to their member-owners in addition to generating income. Examples include credit unions, farm co-ops, housing co-ops and electric utility co-ops. For additional information about cooperatives, see the NCBA website at www.ncba.coop.
Headquartered in Washington, the National Cooperative Business Association represents cooperatives across all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, food distribution and retailing, childcare, credit unions, housing, health care, energy and telecommunications. In addition, NCBA's CLUSA International Program manages approximately $20 million in grants and contracts in 15 countries.
The project, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will quantify the economic impact of cooperatives across all sectors. It will be the first community-wide co-op data collection effort in many years.
NCBA President Paul Hazen said the research will give co-ops "the same kind of data that other businesses take for granted." He said it will make it easier to advocate for co-ops on Capitol Hill and will help pinpoint how cooperatives are addressing major areas of national need, such as heath care, aging and housing.
"We haven't had anything approaching this kind of comprehensive research capacity since the Labor Department ceased tracking our sector in the 1950s," he said.
Hazen said the University of Wisconsin "is very well equipped to guide this work." Several other academic institutions are expected to be involved as subcontractors.
Working with Senators Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah), NCBA convinced Congress to appropriate $500,000 for the research project in 2005. A second $500,000 installment is likely to be approved this year.
Hazen thanked all those who helped NCBA win approval for the project, as well as those who supported the University of Wisconsin's application to be the lead organization doing the work.
Permanent Partnership
"We look forward to this evolving into a permanent partnership between cooperatives, the federal government and academics to quantify the economic contributions of all cooperatives on a continuing basis," Hazen said.
The university is already working on the scope of the project and will begin data collection in January. The initial phase of the work is to be completed no later than the fall of 2008.
Cooperatives are democratically owned and controlled businesses that are motivated by service to their member-owners in addition to generating income. Examples include credit unions, farm co-ops, housing co-ops and electric utility co-ops. For additional information about cooperatives, see the NCBA website at www.ncba.coop.
Headquartered in Washington, the National Cooperative Business Association represents cooperatives across all sectors of the economy, including agriculture, food distribution and retailing, childcare, credit unions, housing, health care, energy and telecommunications. In addition, NCBA's CLUSA International Program manages approximately $20 million in grants and contracts in 15 countries.
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