Here are some national or govt organizations with informational resources we should probably take a look at for pertinent items.  Please add to this list

US Rural Development department of the USDA CoOp reports - 

www.rurdev.usda.gov/RBS/pub/cooprpts.htm

The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives -

www.uwcc.wisc.edu/index.html

National Association of Housing Cooperatives -

www.coophousing.org/

National Cooperative Business Association -

www.ncba.coop/

The Urban Assistance Homesteading Board -

www.uhab.org/