Austin Cooperative Business Association

Hello Cooperators! There is an update on the Corporate Transparency Act. There is a new Federal requirement that impacts most cooperatives that we work with. Any owner with a controlling interest, or who owns at least 25% of the business, is required to file with the Federal Crimes Enforcement Network. This requirement has been through a lot of stops and starts, but at this time all controlling beneficial owners (i.e. your Board and any Owners in a senior management role) are required to file by March 21, 2025. The advice we’ve received from our partners at the U.S. Federation of Worker Co-ops is to gather the ownership information for all members with a beneficial ownership interest, and be ready to file, but wait to actually file the information until closer to the updated deadline, as there is a chance the requirement will be blocked or deadline extended again. There is active litigation on this issue, so updates are likely. Please keep an eye on the U.S. Federation website for ongoing updates. buff.ly/4hSVEGC. And let us know if you have any questions! To file, you’ll need to provide: -Name of each Beneficial Owner -Date of Birth -Address -Identifying number from an acceptable identification document such as a passport (U.S. or foreign), U.S. Driver’s License, and the name of the issuing state/jurisdiction. Website for filing https://buff.ly/3NRV8vD There are some entities are exempt: 1 Securities reporting issuer 2 Governmental authority 3 Bank 4 Credit union 5 Depository institution holding company 6 Money services business 7 Broker or dealer in securities 8 Securities exchange or clearing agency 9 Other Exchange Act registered entity 10 Investment company or investment adviser 11 Venture capital fund adviser 12 Insurance company 13 State-licensed insurance producer 14 Commodity Exchange Act registered entity 15 Accounting firm 16 Public utility 17 Financial market utility 18 Pooled investment vehicle 19 Tax-exempt entity 20 Entity assisting a tax-exempt entity 21 Large operating company 22 Subsidiary of certain exempt entities 23 Inactive entity

The Jeweler's Saw Co-op, an ACBA member, is hiring! "? We’re Hiring! ? Join The Jeweler’s Saw Co-op as a Studio Manager or Class Coordinator! Both positions are part-time, 20 hrs/week. Pay: $25/hr. If you're passionate about supporting artists and organizing creative spaces, we want to hear from you!" Details can be found here: https://buff.ly/4i4ERQD

Our next social is being moved due to weather, It will now be March 20th. What: ACBA Winter Social and Annual Member Meeting When: Thursday, March 20th · 6:30 - 8:30pm CST Where: Central Machine Works - 4824 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 RSVP: https://buff.ly/3NGoso9

Our next social is next month. There is alot going on in our local co-op movement and now is a great time to connect! We will be throwing in our annual meeting update at the end of the social. What: ACBA Winter Social and Annual Member Meeting When: Thursday, February 20th · 6:30 - 8:30pm CST Where: Central Machine Works - 4824 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 RSVP: https://buff.ly/3NGoso9

Building Austin's Black Cooperative Movement - In-person Workshop Black communities across the U.S. and the world are engaging with the cooperative model as a tool for economic, social, and cultural liberation. In this session, we will build on Austin's Black co-op history to connect with the active and growing National Black Cooperative Movement. Guest speaker Assata Richards will explore an example from our neighbors in Houston, where We Are The Ones cooperative is transforming what economic development means for Third Ward, a historically Black neighborhood threatened by economic and social forces including gentrification. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with each other to lay the groundwork for an ongoing Black-Led Cooperative study group here in Austin. Date and time: Wednesday, February 26 · 1 - 3:30pm CST Location: Carver Branch Library - 1161 Angelina Street Austin, TX 78702 RSVP: https://buff.ly/3NGoso9 or buff.ly/3Q2zqWo

"Registration (https://buff.ly/4hoGtnZ) is open for the 9th annual National Home Care Cooperative Conference, scheduled for March 11-14, 2025 in Dulles, Virginia. The conference is organized by the Cooperative Development Foundation and Elevate and hosted at the headquarters of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation. This year’s theme is “Cooperative Ownership: United in Purpose.” The conference will focus on cooperative ownership and the incredible power that comes from working together towards a common purpose. The National Home Care Cooperative Conference is one of the highlights of the year for people who believe worker-ownership offers better jobs for caregivers and better care for clients. Join us to celebrate the strength of unity and discover how we can reach new heights together! "

Network for Developing Conscious Community is hosting it's annual Black Cooperative Academy in Baltimore (hybrid) this year between March 6-22. "A transformative gathering dedicated to advancing cooperative models within Black communities. This hybrid academy offers a unique opportunity to collaborate, learn, and share insights with like-minded practitioners and leaders who are passionate about fostering economic empowerment and social equity through cooperatives. What to Expect: The academy will feature: Engaging workshops and training sessions led by experts in cooperative development. Interactive discussions on cooperative governance, finance, and sustainability. Networking opportunities with community practitioners, cooperative leaders, and advocates. Strategies for addressing challenges and amplifying the impact of cooperatives in Black communities. Event Details: Date: March 6- May 22 Location: 4115 Frederick Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21229 Who Should Attend: Community practitioners, cooperative members, entrepreneurs, and advocates for Black-led cooperative initiatives. How to Register: To confirm your participation you can here (https://buff.ly/4hcUJjx). Space is limited, so we encourage you to register early by January 27th"

"The 2025 Narrative Power Summit will be held in New Orleans, May 7-10. We chose New Orleans for its rich cultural heritage and deep roots in movement-building and we’re honored to host this year’s summit in a place where history and activism are woven into the fabric of everyday life. NPS will reflect the vibrancy and energy of this iconic city, featuring local culture bearers and programming that connect us to its unique community. We can’t think of a better place to convene social justice communicators and we hope you will join us for this transformative gathering. The safety of our attendees and accessibility of the space remains of the utmost importance to our team. We are developing a robust, values-aligned COVID-19 safety and onsite security policy which we will share closer to the event. Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions. If you are interested in sponsoring NPS, which includes providing critical scholarship support, contact us to discuss various sponsorship opportunities. " See more here: https://buff.ly/42e4kCu

There are several amazing conferences/summits/gatherings this year! We will be highlighting some over the next few weeks. Consider attending the RESIST & BUILD Summit in Atlanta May 2nd -5th. Registration has opened and they are still planning the programming and funding. See more details here: https://buff.ly/4aetuCY Resist & Build is an alliance of movements working within, against, and beyond capitalism to build solidarity economies and achieve systemic transformation. Your participation in the Summit is an opportunity to connect with organizers, artists, educators, and movement leaders committed to this shared vision. Their Call for Programming Proposals is still open: https://buff.ly/3DTSvr2

A Booking Cooperative has online workshops on financials and cooperatives. They announced their spring curriculum. See more here: https://buff.ly/4h1fe2G "Registration is now open: ??Financial Foundations 2 rounds: February, April ??Building Shared Futures: Planning with Budgets, Cash Flow, Savings, Reserves 2 rounds: March, May ??Coaching Cohort March Sign up! Share with a finance-curious friend. ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? About us: A Bookkeeping Cooperative (ABC) is a worker-owned union cooperative dedicated to building solidarity economies. We develop the skills, systems, and confidence of people and projects working towards a just world beyond capitalism through bookkeeping, consulting, and financial education. "