News & Notes - October 2026

Celebrated by cooperatives nationwide during the month of October, National Co-op Month is an annual opportunity to raise awareness of a trusted, proven way to do business and build resilient, inclusive communities. This year’s theme, “Built for This Moment,” highlights the fact that cooperatives were established to tackle market failures and respond to structural crises.

Wisconsin alone is home to over 680 cooperatives. They encompass a diverse array of businesses, including farmer co-ops, worker co-ops, credit unions, mutual insurance, housing co-ops, and energy co-ops. Co-operative businesses flourish across the U.S. economy, with one in three individuals being a co-op member. Globally, approximately 1 billion people are affiliated with about 3 million cooperatives, and around 10% of the world’s population, or roughly 280 million individuals, are employed by co-ops. Since they are member-owned, cooperatives are deeply rooted in their communities and governed by the people who utilize them to fulfill their needs.