USFWC member The Industrial Commons is leading the National Science Foundation’s Textile Innovation Engine to “revolutionize” the Carolinas’ textile economy. Awarded $15 million in 2024, and positioned to receive up to $160M over the next ten years, the project opens new doors for worker-owned and industrial cooperatives in the region to access capital and scale.
Our advocacy to write worker ownership into the CHIPS and Science Act and the federal innovation programs that followed ensured a seat at the table for co-ops in the Carolinas. By linking local ecosystems to federal policy wins, the USFWC helped to create a fertile ground for access for our members to seize this opportunity faster and at a greater scale than they could have alone.
When we unify our members and partners’ voice for co-op-inclusive legislation, we make it easier to start and sustain worker-owned businesses and we build together toward scalable impact.
By advocating at the national level, the USFWC helps co-ops dismantle systemic barriers they cannot overcome on their own.
