Industrial Cooperative Association

CONTACT:

One Harvard St., Suite 200
Brookline, MA 02445
617-232-8765
www.ica-group.org

Newell Lessell, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

ICA works to create worker and community ownership of businesses, to increase job security, community wealth, and business performance. Founded in 1978, they have created or saved 7,000 jobs in 51 diverse companies -- 20 start-ups, 12 successful buyouts, 11 employee stock ownership conversions, and 8 technically-assisted turnarounds. They got the idea from a system of cooperatives in Mondragon, northern Spain, which employs 20,000 workers. This is technically demanding, with a diversely qualified staff aiming at achieving institutional self-support through fees for service. In 1983 it created a Community Development Finance Institution, which they call LEAF -- a Local Enterprise Assistance Fund. An especially promising new field for them is helping to create new immigrant businesses in low-income neighborhoods. Working with Viet-AID, a community center in Dorchester, they created an office-cleaning business; with the Aña da Hora Brazilian Workers Center, they are launching a cooperative house cleaning company. If you believe in philanthropic businesses, Social Purpose Enterprise or Ventures, here is a charity for you.

(2003: HUMAN SERVICES: Well-Being)