Who We Are

The Olympic Cooperative Network (OCN) is a self-organizing network fostering the creation, growth, and sustainability of local cooperatives.

OCN is inclusive of existing and start-up cooperatives and cooperative support organizations.  Over 40 cooperatives in a variety of sectors can be found on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas, including:

• Worker cooperatives are owned and controlled by their workers for the purpose of providing meaningful work to their members.
• Consumer cooperatives are owned by consumer members who use the co-op to purchase the goods or services that they need.
• Producer cooperatives are owned by people producing similar goods or services. The members use the cooperative to more effectively negotiate prices and to access markets.
• Purchasing cooperatives whose members are businesses or organizations combine member demand to achieve better pricing, availability, and delivery of products or services.

Our Values

OCN’s web of relationships creates opportunities for:

Nurturing Our Communities

Co-operatives are structured to serve the needs of their communities and increase the capacity of community members to help each other.  In some cases this may be providing meaningful work; in others it may be providing a service or good that doesn’t otherwise exist; and in others it may be providing the best possible price for its members needs or goods.

Building Economic Democracy

Economic democracy is when people share ownership and decision making over the power and resources in their communities. Where economic democracy exists at substantial scales, we see significantly reduced inequality and greater well-being for all, especially working people.

Caring for Our Planet

The cooperative model enables individuals to achieve together what they cannot on their own. By providing alternatives to the extractive and exploitative practices of profit and growth focused business models, cooperatives are key to developing a regenerative economy. 

History and Current Activities

OCN was formed in 2017.  Since our inception the network has co-sponsored several events, including a Co-op Academy. We are currently prioritizing the following:

• Membership drive
• Website and directory development
• Studying cooperative ecosystems and the solidarity economy
• Investigating peer learning and mentorship program
• Building network capabilities