Many might already know, but in case not, the Basque town of Mondragon has gained some fame for the co-operative there.  It has been used as a model because of its great success.  If you haven’t heard about it, you can find some information at this Wikipedia article.  A reader pointed me to this blog, which gives a diary of a visit to Mondragon to learn about the co-op.  Some interesting reading for anyone interested in alternative business models.