"With unemployment still high and job growth anemic, finding jobs for Americans should be the top priority of our elected officials. To deal with this serious crisis, I propose the creation of a National Cooperative Administration to encourage the creation of worker-owned businesses.

The NCA could provide free advice and low interest loans to newly created cooperatives and small cooperatives looking to expand. The NCA could provide assistance in areas such as acquiring insurance, running retirement programs, regulatory compliance and other administrative functions.

In addition, the NCA could administer a program under which individuals currently receiving unemployment and wishing to form a new worker-owned and -operated business can receive special matching funds. The individuals could temporarily remain qualified for some assistance programs or get an advance on the value of their unemployment compensation to help start the new businesses."