Co-op Day 2026: Minnesota cooperatives make their voice heard at the Capitol

Written by Ben Nelson, Cooperative Network Executive Director

On April 14, at the Minnesota State Capitol, members of Cooperative Network convened for the organization’s annual Co-op Day, a cornerstone event where the cooperative community unites to advocate for policies that bolster local businesses, jobs, and families across the state. This gathering underscores the enduring strength of the cooperative model in addressing real-world challenges, from business succession to financial innovation and rural resilience.

A key focus was supporting transitions to worker-owned cooperatives. With over 50,000 Minnesota companies owned by individuals aged 55 and older set to change hands in the coming decade – potentially impacting nearly 600,000 jobs – advocates called for dedicated development grants. Worker co-ops, numbering around 1,300 nationwide and tripling in the past decade, demonstrate superior success rates, boasting just 15% annual employee turnover compared to industry averages of 40-60%. They keep financial wealth rooted locally while boosting wages and profit-sharing for lower-income workers.

Credit union priorities took center stage too, with strong backing for bipartisan bills like HF 4118/SF 4444, which authorizes flexible insurance options beyond federal NCUA coverage, and HF 3709/SF 3794, enabling safe custody of digital assets like cryptocurrencies under Minnesota’s regulated framework. These measures empower credit unions to protect members from fraud and unregulated providers in fast-growing financial sectors.

In agriculture, discussions emphasized critical supports amid economic uncertainty: reauthorizing farmer-lender mediation (HF 3692) after requests doubled, expanding beginning farmer tax credits (HF 1626), broadening DAIRI relief for dairy operations, and safeguarding green fertilizer grants to cut carbon impacts.

Housing advocacy highlighted cooperative models for affordable, resident-controlled homeownership, equitable lending access, and incentives for manufactured housing preservation – vital for low- and moderate-income households.

These Capitol conversations reinforce cooperatives’ role in fostering democratic ownership and community prosperity. Stay tuned for legislative updates as our collective efforts yield results.