The Georgia Cooperative Development Center (GCDC) is the statewide hub for shared ownership and cooperative development. We help communities, entrepreneurs, and organizations build enterprises where people share ownership, governance, and the value they create.
Through education, technical assistance, coaching, shared services development, and digital literacy, we support the models that strengthen local economies and expand opportunity across Georgia—from worker-owned cooperatives to employee ownership transitions and shared services networks.
Together, we’re building a future where more people in Georgia own what they create.
what we do
We Help Communities Build Shared Ownership Enterprises
GCDC provides the tools, expertise, and hands-on support needed to start, strengthen, and scale shared ownership models across Georgia. Our approach blends cooperative values, practical strategy, and community-centered innovation to help groups turn their ideas into lasting, people-powered enterprises.
Four Key Service Pillars
P5 "Education, Training & Development"
Our Impact in Georgia
From Atlanta to Athens, from rural South Georgia to the Appalachian foothills, GCDC partners with communities, small businesses, and institutions to build inclusive, people-centered enterprises.
Our work strengthens local economies, supports BIPOC- and women-led businesses, expands opportunity for underserved communities, and advances a future where more Georgians can own, govern, and build lasting economic power.
Shared Ownership Is a Pathway to Community Wealth
Shared ownership models, like cooperatives, give workers, consumers, producers, and communities the power to own, govern, and benefit from the businesses and resources that sustain them. These models reduce inequality, strengthen local economies, and build long-term wealth—especially in underserved communities.
GCDC supports a full range of shared ownership models, including:
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Worker-owned cooperatives
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Consumer and membership-based co-ops
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Producer and marketing cooperatives
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Purchasing & shared services cooperatives
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Hybrid and multi-stakeholder models
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Platform & digital cooperatives
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Employee ownership transitions (ESOPs, EOTs, cooperative conversions)
Expanding Access Through Shared Services Cooperatives
Shared services cooperatives allow small businesses, entrepreneurs, and community enterprises to pool resources and access essential services—such as marketing, administration, staffing, and digital support—at a sustainable cost. GCDC is piloting an innovative shared services initiative in Athens that supports small businesses and mission-driven entrepreneurs. This model will serve as a blueprint for scaling shared services cooperatives across Georgia, strengthening local economies and expanding access to high-quality services statewide.