Whether it’s hang-ups over personal guarantees, lack of familiarity with cooperative structures, or outdated metrics of risk that disproportionately impact communities of color, cooperatives often struggle to access needed capital through traditional financial institutions. To bridge this gap, PACA became a Peer Member of the Seed Commons, a national network of locally rooted, non-extractive loan funds that aims to bring the power of big finance under community control. Seed Commons is based on the model, experience, and infrastructure of the Working World, who has been successfully investing in cooperative enterprises for over 15 years. For more information about Seed Commons, check out their website at https://seedcommons.org/
[Image above is a map of the United States, with labels to show where Seed Commons peers are located.]
Through Seed commons, PACA is able to provide loans to PACA members and cooperatives across Greater Philadelphia that align with our prioritized communities and Seed Commons principles.
Click here to learn more about what you can expect from a Seed Commons loan.
If you are interested in learning more about Seed Commons financing, the first step is attending an Info Session. To be notified about upcoming Info Session dates, click here.