Cheers for Employee Ownership
Cheers for Employee Ownership
EO+WD Weekend Newsletter, Vol. 67
🤗 Welcome Back
It’s almost the first of the new month, we hope you have a good one!
👟 One Thing
In July we asked you for intel on rumors about a new purpose trust in Oregon. It’s live! Made in Old Town is a steward-owned, “$125 million urban redevelopment project that aims to turn the oldest neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, into a hub for sustainable footwear design and manufacturing innovation.”
🚀 What We’ve Been Up To
Tiffany celebrates her first year as a research assistant for Dr. Hand!
Dr. Hand caught Covid and didn’t make it to Oxford. But over on Di5W he wrote about the problem with vibes and is experimenting with a new newsletter about elections, The Runaround.
🗞️ News to Know
The National Center for Employee Ownership is hiring a technical content manager, check the job listing here!
Kathyrn Lyon is speaking at the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) conference next month. Register for the one-day workshop here (h/t Zoe Schlag)
✊ Ownership Conversions & Acquisitions
Investment firm, KKR recently announced it has acquired Varsity Brands, a North Texas sports apparel company
RF MacDonald Co. announces its shift to employee ownership through an ESOP
GreenStar, in Ithaca, voted to unionize with Workers United, becoming the second co-op grocery store in upstate New York to do so
Proconex officially becomes a minority-owned ESOP (h/t EOX)
FST Logistics, a 100% employee-owned company recently acquired Dancer Logistics, expanding its footprint in the Midwest
Employee-owned RESA Power has acquired a fourth company, Power Technical Services, Inc. (h/t EOX)
🏛️ Policy Moves
The Colorado Sun explores state incentives aimed at promoting ESOPs and employee ownership among rural and small businesses
Renee Lewis shares an update on Governor Polis’s new policies supporting employee ownership in Colorado
Project Equity launched an interactive tool for easier access to state-level employee ownership policies, access it here (Thanks Project Equity!) (h/t EOX)
The National Worker Co-op Development & Support Act aims to establish a federal agency to support worker-owned cooperatives with capital, technical assistance, and regulatory changes. Read the bill here and sign the support petition by the US Federation of Worker Co-ops here (h/t EOX)
🧑💻 Research & Analysis
Forbes explains a recent case where the court’s ruling on stock options demonstrates that employees can successfully win lawsuits related to termination and compensation disputes
Duane Casey discusses the impact of ESOPs on organizational culture and employee engagement
GS Verde Group encourages businesses to enhance their B Corp impact by offering guidance on employee ownership and social responsibility
The Colorado Employee Ownership Office highlights the advantages of ESOPs in the restaurant industry
EOX network is offering free resources and information tools for business succession
The Daily Maverick explains how South African companies can create shared value through employee ownership
The IZA Institute of Labor Economics reports on how ESOPs are impacting employee well-being and overall productivity in the U.S. manufacturing sector
The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) surveys local business owners to gather insights on their succession planning
The Menke Group celebrates 50 years of promoting ESOPs
📅 What’s Coming: Events
August 29: MNCEO hosts the Employee Ownership Ambassador Program for people who want a deep understanding of employee ownership. Register here
August 30: Dr. Hand will be presenting at the second annual Rutgers-Oxford Research Symposium
September 4: Aspen EOP and Workshop’s webinar, Seizing the Moment on Worker Rights: A Toolkit for Organizers and Practitioners
September 4: ILCEO is headed to Chicago City Hall for a hearing on employee ownership.
🆕 | September 5: Join the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership for their annual Gold Fundraiser at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Minnesota, register here
September 10-12: The Great Game of Business Conference 2024 for individuals and companies looking to build ownership culture hits Arlington, TX. Register here
September 12: NCEO hosts a Community Conversation celebrating Employee Ownership Month. Register here
🆕 | September 12-13: Registration for The Worker Co-Op Conference has officially closed but join virtually here (h/t EOX)
September 12-13: The Rock Mountain Chapter of the ESOP Association’s Fall Conference
September 18-20: NCEO hosts its Fall Forum in Indianapolis, including a day on employee ownership trusts
September 23-24 & October 21-22: Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA) hosts its Regional Policy Seminars in Chicago and Marina Del Rey.
October 8-10: Employee ownership will be one area of focus at the 2024 California Economic Summit.
October 21-22: NCEO hosts Is An ESOP Right For You? in Phoenix, AZ
🆕 | October 24: The Georgia Center for Employee Ownership’s Employee Ownership Celebration
December 4: The 2nd Annual Ownership Economy Summit in New York City. Register here
February 20, 2025: The Employee Ownership Transition: A Deep Dive, a webinar on selling to a (British) employee ownership trust
🕰️ ICYMI
The Report-Out from our Georgia event, check it out if you’re wondering how you can do something similar in your community!
Football season is upon us. What if teams were owned by their players?