SPRING 2025 COHORTS
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN SOON
When does Solid State take in new groups?
Solid State takes in new groups twice per year, our next application season opens March 1st and ends March 28th 11:59pm, chosen groups will be notified on April 18th.
What kind of groups are we looking for at Solid State?
Solid State prioritizes racialized migrant communities, with a focus on refugees, asylum seekers, and first and second generation migrants. Our mission is to help people in these communities build enterprises that create sustainable jobs, working past extractivism and exploitation. Ideally, these will take the form of worker co-ops. If you are not familiar with co-ops, please check out this resource to get a basic introduction: Intro to Co-ops.
We will also consider non-profits that intend to be grant-supported or otherwise non-revenue generating, if they make a valuable community impact and incorporate cooperative principles into their organizational structure and governance. Cooperative principles include values like democratic decision-making, member ownership, and shared responsibility, which ensure that the organization operates in a fair and inclusive manner.
For March’s intake, we are planning on selecting up to four groups - we anticipate more demand than we can fill, and a competitive application process. Groups that are not selected in the upcoming intake are encouraged to apply again during the next intake period and to explore becoming a partner organization to Solid State. External partners can still use Solid State’s space and be part of the community, and access support in less formal ways depending on staff capacity.
What do groups that are selected for development support at Solid State get?
Groups at Solid State are given comprehensive support for establishing their enterprise. We are able to help you from ideation and planning all the way to becoming a successful and sustainable organization, depending on your organization’s needs - including
An 8-week course on the skills needed for worker ownership, including financial, communication, and collective decision-making skills that can serve you throughout your career.
A knowledgeable development team that will help you:
Articulate your purpose, mission, vision, and values.
Develop your brand identity and marketing strategy.
Design your organization's management, governance, legal and decision-making structure and incorporate
Plan, budget, and forecast for financial success
Access fundraising and financing through grants and loans
A supportive network full of connections to potential funders, partners, and clients.
A space to work and access to communal meals with our community.
Questions to consider before applying
What need does your project address, and why will being part of Solid State help you address it?
What specific benefits will your project bring to the Surrey community? We are especially interested in jobs and the availability of products and services.
If your project is not currently bringing benefits to Surrey, what timeline do you see your project bringing jobs or services to Surrey?
If your project aims to create jobs, what are your goals for level of pay (living wage), working conditions, benefits, and etc? How will workers be included in ownership and decision making?
How do you envision your project creating long-term sustainable jobs?
Please tell us about each co-founder’s connections to Surrey, if any, and the community you come from
How will your project create revenue?
How do you see the potential for financial viability of your project?
What research and community engagement activities have you conducted for your project?
How long has your team worked together, and what is the nature of your pre-existing relationships?
How are roles and responsibilities defined within your team?
How do you plan to make decisions and share resources within your group?
How much time will each of you dedicate to your project?
What skills and expertise do each of your members bring to the project?
How does your project differ from or complement the work done by Solid State or its member groups?
What new communities or markets will your project engage that are not currently reached by Solid State?
Contact us.
For any questions or further information please contact:
Syed Khawar - Coop Developer