; Whereas stores that offer outdoor gear such as REI, automotive parts such as NAPA, as well as those that make and sell baked goods, beer, and wine, and services such as taxi services and pedicabs, are increasing in popularity and use; Whereas in worker cooperatives, members both perform the work and govern the business; Whereas in recent years, many businesses are choosing to structure this way so that workers have greater control over the business in which they work and own; Whereas many sole proprietor, partnership, or family businesses are converting to worker-owned cooperatives when faced with a potential closure or buyout; Whereas there are an estimated 350 worker-owned cooperatives that employ over 4,500 people in the United States and generate over $500 million in annual revenue; Whereas one of the largest worker-owned cooperatives, Cooperative Home Care Associates, has been able to reduce their once high employee turnover rate of 60 percent down to 15 percent by providing a more equitable work environment; Whereas cooperatives are a proven strategy in helping people build a more inclusive economy that is more equitable, participatory, growing, sustainable, and stable; Whereas a survey of Americans was conducted in April of 2015 and found that cooperatives are preferred over for-profit, investor-owned business models for the values of having the best interests of the consumer in mind, running the business in a trustworthy manner, commitment to and involvement in their communities, commitment to the highest quality of service, offering fair and competitive prices, being counted on to meet a customer’s needs, and providing products or services of high value