BRED is a worker-led intervention to catalyze a more cooperative economy in Baltimore and beyond.
We strategically deploy non-extractive capital, popular education, and deep technical assistance to sustain and scale the local ecosystem for worker and community ownership.
Since 2016, BRED has deployed over $20 million in non-extractive investment advancing worker and community ownership in Baltimore and Maryland.
BRED can help you start a cooperative business:
- Learn more about worker cooperatives—how they work and why they matter.
- Learn more about BRED’s unique approach to non-extractive finance, helping co-operatives get the capital they need to grow and thrive.
- Attend BRED’s annual Worker Cooperative Jumpstart and consult our online resource library.
- Ready to get started? Fill out our intake form and let us know how BRED can help.
Discover how BRED is helping Waterbottle Cooperative tackle the vacant housing crisis in West Baltimore, creating jobs with dignity for people in need of a second chance.
Discover how BRED helped David Wells, the founder of The Wine Source, retire after 34 years by selling his business to its workers.
BRED can help you sell your business to your employees:
- Learn more about how we help local business owners preserve their legacy through worker-ownership conversions
- Connect with our business legacy team at conversions@baltimoreroundtable.org or schedule an initial consultation on how a transition to worker-ownership for your business can be structured and financed.
BRED can help you and your co-workers buy your workplace:
- Learn more about BRED’s support for worker-led conversions to cooperative ownership.
- Fill out our intake form to learn more, or, if the situation is extremely urgent, get in touch ASAP at info@baltimoreroundtable.org.
Discover how BRED helped the workers at Common Ground reopen their cafe as a democratic workplace.
Discover how BRED helped Taharka Brothers scale operations and build democratic culture as a worker-owned, youth-led ice cream manufacturer.
BRED can help your cooperative business grow and thrive:
- Attend an upcoming BRED training, apply to our Advanced Cooperator Apprenticeship Training, or learn more about our consulting services
- Connect through BRED with Baltimore’s wider co-op community
- Learn more about our lending programs to help cooperatives access non-extractive funding for business expansion, property acquisition, and working capital.
BRED makes it easy to support the cooperative ecosystem in Baltimore and Maryland:
- Make a tax-deductible donation to support our cooperative education, outreach, and training programs.
- Learn more about investing in worker and community ownership through BRED and our national cooperative, Seed Commons.
- Request a speaker from BRED to talk to your class, neighborhood association, or organization.
- Shop co-op with all the cooperatives we have supported in Baltimore and beyond.
Discover how BRED is building one of the fastest-growing worker cooperative ecosystems in the country, as a member of the national Seed Commons financial cooperative.
Latest news and updates:
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Anna and Water Bottle Cooperative Speak At Main Street Maryland Conference
On October 6, 2026 an annual conference returns to Maryland. Maryland’s many Main Streets are the heart of our vibrant and welcoming communities. The 2026 Main Street Maryland Conference, organized by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), will bring together community leaders, economic development professionals, small business advocates,…
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August Solidarity Breakfast Series at Red Emma’s
Join the Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy for a breakfast series exploring the amazing solidarity economy enterprises that are black-led, black-centered and putting people, ecology and justice before private profit.
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We’re Celebrating 10 Years!
Celebrate with us throughout October during National Cooperative Month. The Baltimore Roundtable for Economic Democracy will be celebrating 10 years of transformative work in the community. We will have events, co-op tours, and co-op specials all month long, so we hope you will be able to join us!!!