People form cooperatives -- user-owned, democratically-controlled businesses -- for many reasons. Co-ops can:

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• address market failures where neither the private sector nor the government provide a needed service, 

• help small players gain parity with large investor-owned competitors, or 

• give consumers a deliberate choice of enterprise to better meet their common needs and aspirations.  

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Regardless of the reason, the very structure of a cooperative requires that it be responsive to its member-owners, and in turn to the local community. The nature of cooperatives is inherently both locally-based and participatory, embodying a direct connection between member needs and the services provided.