Our Theory of Change

ABCA & ACBF will grow a robust cooperative economy of democratically owned and operated housing, marketplaces and workplaces in Austin & Central Texas by:

• Strengthening our community with economic agency through developing democratic skills and cooperative leaders
• Growing awareness of the cooperative business model with individuals, like-minded organizations, and local government to foster greater public knowledge and understanding.
• Nurturing new cooperatives and converting existing businesses to cooperatives
• Enhancing community quality of life, stability in employment, housing, and resources through inclusive, equitable, and accessible business practices aimed at reversing historical inequities and promoting equitable distribution of wealth.
• Creating a cooperative ecosystem where members sustain themselves through interconnections between co-ops by fostering a sense of stewardship and buy-in among all participants.

Programming

Co-op Development

• We believe a vibrant cooperative economy includes cooperative housing and a variety of co-op businesses owned by the workers and  communities that need and use them.
• Connecting, supporting, and growing co-op association membership.
• Free or low cost coaching services to support with:
  • Business idea development
  • Membership recruitment and training
  • Business planning
  • Financial planning
  • Bylaws and Governance
  • Democratic management structures
  • Strategic Planning
  • Connecting to co-op savvy professional services
  • And more depending on needs and capacity

Advocacy

• ACBA leverages local co-ops and allied community members and organizations to advocate at City Hall. We’re working to build up advocacy efforts to the county and state.
• Housing Committee: advocating for resident owners to have access to things like homeowner assistance, working to improve the land code to allow for cooperative development and renovation of housing, and connecting housing co-ops to each other to share struggles, needs, and tips.
• Business Committee: ensuring co-ops know about economic subsidies and relief programs, advocating for technical assistance for cooperative entrepreneurs, educating City and County staff on co-ops as a tool for workforce development and accessing equity, and supporting the development of Principle 6, cooperation among cooperatives.

Current Projects

• Austin Cooperative Coaching and Training Program: partnering with the City Economic Development Department Small Business Division, Texas Rural Cooperative Center, and Nill Consulting to provide city sponsored co-op technical assistance coaching and public webinars covering topics like Democratic Management, Co-ops and the Gig Economy, and Intro to Worker Co-ops.
• Community Owned Food Retail Initiative: a 3 year, City funded initiative with Go Austin Vamos Austin that brings together community organizing and the co-op model to support multi-cultural and multi-lingual resident leaders and community stakeholders to reduce food apartheid in the eastern crescent of Austin.