Cross-Sectoral

Launched in 2006, the Center for Community-Based Enterprise (C2BE) seeks to build a network of mutually supportive cooperatives or worker-owned companies in Detroit, especially among members of historically underserved communities.  Focused on creating living-wage jobs through worker-ownership, the nonprofit provides legal help, technical assistance, and education to individuals interested in developing worker-owned cooperatives and other community-based enterprises. Most recently, its work has been credited with helping an Ann Arbor-based company, Arbor Assays, transition its ownership to its employees—becoming the first U.S. life sciences company to be 100 percent employee-owned.

Founded in July 2005, CMRC works to bring together regional labor, business, government, education and community leaders to develop “high road” economic development based on the developing of a high-value added manufacturing economy. The group's work has included the development of a public high school, Austin Polytech, which specializes in training its largely African-American student body that will enable students to graduate with industry-recognized credentials that are in demand by area manufacturers. Read more about Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council...

Founded in 2000 in Western Massachusetts, E2M (“Economy 2000”) aims to forge a community supporting economic model in which participating businesses agree to: 1) share a percentage of profits (at least 5%) with their employees and 2) contribute a percentage of profits (again, at least 5%) to the community, half of which would go to charitable causes with the remainder helping provide start-up capital for more community-oriented businesses. The group kicked off this effort with the sale of E2M coffee, but, over time, hopes to add a wide variety of product lines. Read more about E2M ...

Founded as a nonprofit organization in 1996, Northland's mission is to develop innovative asset-building strategies for low-income individuals, entrepreneurial non-profits, and community economic development organizations. The Institute is an active participant in national Individual Development Account (IDA) coalitions, promotes social enterprise, and advocates ESOPs as a way to build wealth among asset-poor workers and root businesses more firmly in their communities.  One key initiative it developed and now manages is the Minnesota Community Capital Fund (MCCF), which aims to increase the availability of gap-financing capital for Minnesota businesses by pooling local economic development dollars and accessing national capital markets.  Since its inception in 2003, MCCF has made 91 loans totaling more than $36 million to businesses and nonprofits across the state.

Founded in 2001, the Sprout Fund is a nonprofit that works on issues related to civic engagement, talent attraction and retention, public art, and catalytic small-scale funding in Pittsburgh, PA.  Funding Sprout Seed Awards - modest grants that support community-based projects and strategic initiatives - the Sprout Fund has made nearly 200 awards, totaling $1.2 million.  In 2009, it had an operating budget of $1.3 million. Read more about Sprout Fund...