ABOUT
The Initiative for Cooperatives and Civic Innovation (ICCI) leverages the expertise and resources of UC Davis land grant mission to bring economic power to communities by scaling and supporting hybrid business models. These enterprises—ranging from cooperatives and employee-owned companies to public-benefit corporations and mutual enterprises—have the potential to create community wealth, yet they often face systemic barriers in financing, governance, and market access.
Why This Matters
Cooperatives work and have a proven economic impact. There are over 1 billion individuals across 150 countries that belong to co-ops, which create over 100 million jobs worldwide. However, these businesses often lack visibility and institutional backing. The “hidden economy,” which includes universities, public utilities, employee-owned enterprises, and mission-driven organizations, holds immense untapped potential but faces systemic barriers to scaling, financing, and policy integration. Our goal is to unlock this potential, democratize access to capital, and integrate hybrid enterprises into mainstream economic development.
Mission and Vision
We exist to scale and elevate the impact of cooperative and hybrid business institutions, ensuring they have the tools, capital, and policy support needed to thrive and generate lasting community wealth.
We envision a vibrant economy where hybrid business models flourish across sectors and collaboration drives competitive advantage for communities.
Our Approach
Our Initiative for Cooperatives and Civic Innovation does not just study hybrid enterprises—we are working to grow them, fund them, and embed them into the economy, so that communities have a stake in the future. We are building an ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, community members and research institutions through innovation business models to drive real change. By integrating cooperative enterprises into economic development strategies, we aim to empower communities to scale local solutions and ensure a more inclusive, values-driven economy that benefits all.
Our Pillars
Executive Education
Offering evidence-based curricula and training sessions for leaders, board members, and policymakers on governance and strategies for cooperatives and other hybrid enterprises
Co-op Business Incubation
Supporting new and existing cooperatives with access to business strategists, co-op owner networks, and subject-matter experts in food, utilities, housing, and more
Policy Research and Advocacy
Developing data-driven research articles, white papers, policy briefs, and strategy guides for policies, law, and funding modes that advance cooperatives at all stages
Co-op Business Strategies and Community Impact
Developing strategies for cooperatives to serve their local communities while maximizing their competitiveness against investor-owned companies
