This year has been declared the International Year of Co-operatives, and we (of course) couldn’t be happier. The UN has chosen the theme Co-operatives Build a Better World because it “emphasizes that the co-operative model is a crucial solution for addressing various global challenges”. 

At Co-operatives First, we know that co-ops also have a huge local impact. By creating a co-op, people can reshape their lives and their communities by providing the services they need for themselves.  

If you’ve got an idea for a business or a service your community needs, here are four reasons that 2025 is the year you should start a co-op: 

1. Co-ops create local solutions

Co-ops provide an avenue for communities to identify issues specific to their area and develop solutions that work best for them. You can use a co-op to create many of the things your community might want – from housing to childcare, fitness centres to farmers’ markets.  

The beauty of a co-operative is that it’s created by local people, for local people. Who knows your community better than you do? Co-ops aren’t cookie-cutter solutions offered by big companies from far-off cities – because they’re built by the people who use them, they are planned and customized with the needs of the community in mind. Plus, co-ops encourage their members to get involved and share their input, so they can be responsive to their members who own them.  

2. Co-ops can combat rising costs

As we all know, costs are going up and hitting both individuals’ pocketbooks and businesses’ bottom lines. Co-ops can help on both of these fronts.  

Two of the biggest expenses for families are housing and childcare. But according to the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, people who live in housing co-operatives pay $400-$500 less per month than renters. And for families who want to access $10/day childcare, non-profit childcare co-operatives are eligible for the government subsidies that make that possible. Check out how Maple Creek, Saskatchewan capitalized on these programs. 

For small business owners, working together as a co-operative can help slash costs. Teaming up with other businesses to buy in bulk or negotiate deals can result in savings – just ask The Weed Pool. And working together to secure shared office space or administrative support can also help lower costs. Get creative about how collaborating with other businesses could help you all thrive.  

3. There is Funding Available 

Luckily, there’s been some recognition lately of the importance of funding local solutions to big issues. The two biggest? Housing and childcare. These are both issues that co-ops can address – and for which government funding is currently available.  

If your community needs childcare spaces, by starting a non-profit childcare co-op you can access start-up funding from your provincial government, and it can receive subsidies to allow $10/day spaces. For more on how this works in your province, check out our webinars and workbooks for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.   

If starting a housing co-op sounds like a good solution for your community, keep an eye out for intakes of the Co-op Housing Development Program.  

But of course, housing and childcare aren’t the only types of co-ops! Though they are among the most needed currently, you can create a co-op to address almost any challenge or opportunity. Funding options for other types of co-ops include the Co-operators’ Co-operative Development Program. And if your idea is something your community wants, local people are likely to support it. Check out our webinar on raising funds locally and another on finding free money through grants.  

And as far as finding guidance on how to get your co-op started – we’ve got that covered! And our services are free.   

4. The World Needs Collaboration

Frankly, we’re all looking for ways to come together. We are suffering from a loneliness epidemic and political polarization is affecting our health. In 2025, people want positive ways to make connections and help shape their worlds in small ways. 

Co-ops may not be a silver bullet, but they can make a difference. Co-ops give their creators and members a way to work together, to improve their communities, to feel like they’re part of an initiative that makes a difference in their backyard. So, if you’re looking for connection, a way to make an impact along with your friends and neighbours, to create a way to bring your community together around a common goal, a co-op can be a great way to do it.  We all need to work together.

If you want to start a co-op in 2025, tell us about your idea! If you want to better understand how co-ops work and get inspired about how to use one, take our free Introduction to Co-operatives course or reach out to hear more about this powerful way of doing business.