Cooperatives are fueling growth across the Americas, including in Miami | Opinion
Across the United States, cooperatives have long played a pivotal role in rural economic development— powering local businesses, delivering critical services, and fostering community resilience.
This model of shared ownership and democratic governance is not only sustaining communities at home but also transforming economies throughout Central and South America.
In the U.S., cooperatives are deeply embedded within our economic fabric. Rural electric cooperatives serve over 42 million Americans and cover 56% of the nation’s landmass.
Credit unions now serve more than 135 million members nationwide and hold a combined $2.2 trillion in assets. Agricultural cooperatives help small farmers access global markets and remain competitive amid supply chain volatility and climate challenges.
The cooperative model is also gaining traction in Latin America, where economic pressures and inequality fuel instability. According to the International Cooperative Alliance, cooperatives in the region have helped reduce income inequality, promote financial inclusion, and build community resilience.
A 2023 regional study found cooperative members in Central and South America saw household income increase by 45-60%, and were 10-15% less likely to migrate — contributing to regional stability.
In Honduras and Peru, agricultural cooperatives are helping smallholder farmers access export markets and negotiate fair prices. Peru’s Cenfrocafé, representing over 2,000 small producers, has improved farmer incomes by up to 40% while promoting environmental sustainability.
In Ecuador, cooperative financial institutions have transformed access to capital. As of 2024, nearly 30% of adults use cooperatives as their primary financial institution — especially important for women and indigenous entrepreneurs often excluded from traditional banks.
This momentum has not gone unnoticed. When U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio selected Panama as his first diplomatic destination in 2025, the visit underscored the strategic importance of strengthening regional partnerships that promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. Cooperatives are central to this vision — building from the ground up, through institutions that citizens own and control.
Nowhere is the bridge between North and Latin America more tangible than in Miami. Positioned as the unofficial “gateway to Latin America,” Miami is home to cooperatives like Florida’s Natural and Catalyst Miami, and hosts major development banks, trade missions and diaspora communities with deep roots across the hemisphere.
Miami’s institutions — universities, chambers of commerce and NGOs — have increasingly partnered with Latin American cooperatives to support entrepreneurship, capacity building and financial inclusion.
With over 70% of its population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, many with strong ties to Latin America, the city is well-suited for pilot programs and cooperative innovation that reflect regional needs.
Across the U.S., cooperatives are no longer fringe solutions — they’re proven engines of economic growth and civic engagement. Scaling these enterprises across Latin America could be transformative. If just 10% more rural communities adopted cooperative models, the World Bank estimates it could generate $50 billion in regional GDP over the next decade and reduce poverty by up to 8%.
At the National Cooperative Business Association, we are committed to expanding the cooperative model across the Western Hemisphere. By investing in this approach, we’re not just supporting entrepreneurs — we’re creating inclusive economies that can withstand future shocks and deliver shared prosperity.
The question isn’t whether cooperatives work — it’s how quickly we can scale them to meet the needs of future generations.
Doug O’Brien is president of the Washington, DC-based National Cooperative Business Association (CLUSA)
