Supporting Refugee-Led Co-op Businesses Across Canada

Refugees often arrive with professional skills and entrepreneurial drive, yet often land in low-wage, unstable jobs, often earning under $20,000 in their first year, despite huge potential for economic independence. Solid State Community Industries aims to change this by incubating worker-owned co-operatives in cleaning, food, design, and more, where refugees will earn living wages, enjoy shared business ownership, and real control.

Adapting their proven model that has launched a number of successful co-ops including The Cleaning Co-op which scaled to 25+ workers and $1M+ annual revenue, this new initiative will focus on new refugee participants, offering hands-on training in governance, finance, and operations, plus wraparound supports like counseling and capital access through financial partners to support the creation of co-op enterprises that last.

Northpine Foundation is excited to invest in this initiative, to fuel the formation of new co-ops that offer stable, meaningful employment, driving self-reliance and a thriving co-operative economy for refugees.