Facilitating the Growth of Local Worker Cooperatives

The Urban Upbound Worker Cooperative Initiative has continued supporting small businesses during the pandemic through relief efforts, such as distributing surgical masks to local businesses. Thanks to a generous contribution from LIC Partnership, our team was able to distribute more than 5,700 masks to 34 local businesses around New York City. Eleven of these local businesses are worker cooperatives, which are democratically-run businesses owned by their workers.

Among the worker cooperatives that received these free masks are OSHA Solutions, Pa’lante Green Cleaning, and a new project incubated by Urban Upbound, Sunlight Ecoservices. Led by two immigrant women, Solais and Luz, Sunlight Ecoservices provides professional cleaning services across New York City, from residential housekeeping to office cleaning, in line with CDC and EPA guidelines.

The development of Sunlight Ecoservices started in December 2019. Despite the uncertainty during the incubation period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after months of working with Urban Upbound’s cooperative development team on their business plan, governance, and finances, this week Sunlight Ecoservices secured their first client — a dance studio in Queens. And they are in the process of recruiting two more potential co-owners for the cooperative.

During the pandemic, we assisted Solais and Luz in putting together their product list and pricing proposal, as well as advising them on financial management decisions, content strategy for marketing purposes, a strategy to build their digital presence, and potential client outreach. With support from our partners AEO and GoDaddy, Sunlight Ecoservices built a website and designed a brand that represents their owners.

Urban Upbound greatly appreciates all of our supporters and partners. Your donation gives the community the hand up that they need. Together we make a difference.