Arlington, VA (February 26, 2026) — The Greater Washington Center for Employee Ownership (GWCEO), awarded $15,000 to two grantees through the Annual D.C. Co-op Impact Grant. The D.C. Co-op Impact Grant aims to support cooperatives while catalyzing growth, boosting the localized economy in marginalized communities, and providing catalytic capital to attract other funders.
The grant recipients are expanding the cooperative model in the District, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, led by people of color and/or members of a historically disinvested community.
"We believe that ownership is the foundation to vibrant communities" said John Holdsclaw IV, President and CEO, Rochdale Capital. " GWCEO is a tool to help co-ops thrive and incorporate their community ownership model in the neighborhoods where they live.”
Recipients of this funding include:
● ReDelicious, a food lab co-op that turns food waste into delicious community wealth. They host a weekly community feast/food distribution/educational gathering at Edgewood Community Farm in Ward 5 every Sunday from 3-5pm.
● Syck Enterprise, a Black-owned cooperative management company that helps underserved entrepreneurs transition from credit challenges to capital readiness. They use technology, education, and cooperative business models to empower individuals to build profitable companies within their shared network.