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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Melat Seyoum, Director of Political Affairs and Strategic Partnerships at New York City Network of Worker Owned Cooperatives (NCNOC)
6:33:11
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Melat Seyoum testified on behalf of the New York City Network of Worker Owned Cooperatives (NCNOC) and the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative, advocating for continued support and expansion of worker ownership in the next year's budget. She highlighted the initiative's success in creating cooperative businesses and jobs, particularly benefiting BIPOC women and immigrants.
- The initiative has created over 200 new cooperative businesses and supported over 1,200 new jobs since its inception.
- During the pandemic, they brought in over $20 million in grants and loans to keep cooperatives afloat.
- They are requesting an enhanced funding of $5,097,082 to continue and expand their essential long-term work.
Melat Seyoum
6:33:11
Okay.
6:33:12
Thank you.
6:33:13
Good afternoon, honorable chairperson Aviles and distinguished members of the New York City Committee on Immigration.
6:33:18
My name is Melat Syum, and I'm the director of political affairs and strategic partnerships at the New York City Network of Worker Owned Cooperatives, also known as NCNOC, the member led local trade association representing worker cooperative businesses and democratic workplaces in New York City Metropolitan Area.
6:33:36
I'm here alongside my colleagues from the Workers Justice Project, Democracy at Work Institute, Center for Family Life, and our advocacy council members Clara and Ruth representing 11 other organizations that make up the worker cooperative business development initiative and our worker cooperative ecosystem.
6:33:52
As many before us have shared, we are here during these unprecedented times to support and advocate for our immigrant worker owners in New York City, asking a New York City council to continue supporting the expansion of worker ownership in next year's budget and firmly into the future.
6:34:06
Since the inception of the initiative, we have created over 200 new cooperative businesses and supported over 1,200 new jobs that are not only providing higher hourly wages but also building wealth and assets for individuals who are overwhelmingly BIPOC women and immigrants.
6:34:22
We have seen firsthand how the initiative has served to bolster our sector, strengthening existing cooperative businesses and creating new ones.
6:34:29
The initiative partners have collectively worked to create a comprehensive ecosystem of support for cooperative businesses that are not only ensuring the creation of new cooperatives in low income areas, but also the technical assistance needed to sustain businesses and create new jobs, as well as the education and outreach needed for communities, interested entrepreneurs, and allied organizations during these challenging times.
6:34:49
We did a lot of work during the pandemic and brought in over 20,000,000 in grants and loans to cooperatives to keep them afloat.
6:34:57
We did this with a 3,700,000.0 budget.
6:35:00
Our ask has been similar to where it's been pre COVID.
6:35:03
We asked the city council to enhance our funding to 5,000,000 to $5,097,082 in order for our initiative to double down and do the essential long term work that is needed,
Manuel Castro
6:35:16
for property fees.
6:35:17
Testimony.
6:35:17
Your time has expired.
Melat Seyoum
6:35:20
Okay.
6:35:20
Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and we hope you consider our budget priorities and recommendations during this year's budget negotiation process.
6:35:27
Thank you all.