Supporting a more diverse co-operative economy.

Solid State Community Industries is a worker co-operative developer for youth (under 35) from racialized migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Solid State has supported the development and launch of 18 co-operatives in operation, with more than 150 members from 37 identified national backgrounds. It offers resources to develop and support co-operatives for systemically underserved communities that face language barriers and precarious employment. Cohorts have access to skills training, mentorship, working space, and co-op development support.

Vancity is providing a multiyear grant to Solid State, which “gives us a chance to build a relationship and meaningfully understand the systematic barriers that exist. It also allows us to identify opportunities, beyond financial support, that may be available,” explains Kam Sandhu, from Vancity’s community investment team.

Improving access to finance is a catalyst for fostering economic equity. That’s why Vancity supports organizations that stand to gain the most from enhanced financial inclusion. In this way, we are able to promote economic inclusion and diversity in the co-operative sector.

“We’re building something bigger than a business incubator; our vision is to build a solidarity economy starting in Surrey,” says WeiChun Kua, Coop Community Organizer. “Vancity helps fund our co-op development team – a group of five staff members that helps people who come through Solid State to reach their goals,” explains WeiChun.

With the goal to build Solid State as a co-operative of co-operatives, there is constantly an increasing group of co-ops under their umbrella. Among the co-ops developed at Solid State (which are also Vancity members) are Ethos Lab and the Black Arts Centre. Another cohort is Climate Recentered, formed to recenter the voices in the climate movement to racialized people.