Industrial Commons
Network of textile industry cooperatives that is a national model for building a collaborative industrial center. Link to site [1]
The Industrial Commons (TIC) is a group that is advancing the textile industry in North Carolina toward equitable outcomes. It is structured as a multi-stakeholder network of enterprises, interconnected through governance, economic interests, and market cooperation. As a non-profit organization, TIC owns the for-profit Carolina Textile District LLC, a match maker connecting suppliers and producers. The nonprofit also owns a public benefit corporation. This public benefit corporation enables TIC to hold founding shares in the worker-owned cooperative LLCs launched by the non-profit, granting it veto powers to prevent mission drift. In this way it serves as a hands-on incubator for worker cooperatives. Additionally, TIC has established a community land trust and a capital fund to support its mission. Through its ownership structure and governance mechanisms, TIC facilitates access to capital and resources for these cooperatives, leveraging its balance sheet. The network fosters local relationships, civic engagement, and integrated programs for workforce development and community learning. By promoting employee ownership and shared economic interests, TIC aims to build sustainable solutions deeply rooted in the local context