Carolina Common Enterprise (CCE) and the Cooperative Council of the Carolinas (CCC) partnered with NCGrowth to assess the economic footprint of cooperatively owned enterprises across North and South Carolina. This assessment was informed by the 2009 national cooperative census by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives and represents a renewed effort to measure the scale, diversity, and community contribution
of cooperatives in the region.
Through an electronic survey distributed in the summer of 2025, data was collected from 47 active cooperatives spanning 12 industries and 37 cities across four states, representing a combined 917,028 members and 4,422 employees (full- and part-time). These findings offer valuable insight into cooperative stability, economic footprint, and development needs.
In addition to survey responses, this project compiled, verified, and analyzed a master list of 1,304 cooperatives with operations in the Carolinas, drawing on direct outreach, public records, and previous studies. The majority of the cooperatives in the dataset, 1,225, are headquartered in either North or South Carolina. The remaining establishments are headquartered across 25 states, with activity in the Carolinas. This dataset also includes
both active and inactive cooperatives, providing insights into sector turnover and historical trends. Of the cooperatives identified, 618 are currently active. Of the 618 active cooperatives, 569 are headquartered in the Carolinas, with 429 in North Carolina and 140 in South Carolina. Subsequently, this database provides the most comprehensive accounting of cooperatives in the Carolinas and serves as a baseline for ongoing census efforts.
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