From NPQ: But there has been a snag in implementation—collateral. With an individually owned business, a small business owner will often pledge his or her home as collateral to secure a loan. But what if you have 100 owners? Are they supposed to pledge 100 homes? And what if they aren’t all homeowners? Enter a […]
From Next City: But at a city council meeting this past September, Berkeley City Council approved changes to the requirements for its small business loan fund, adding an alternative to a conventional personal guarantee, making it more friendly for worker-owned cooperatives. It may seem like a small victory, but it’s just one part of a […]
From the Santa Barbara Independent: The phenomenon of worker-owned cooperatives is a simple concept. Workers weigh in on the conditions that affect them most: They vote to elect their board of directors and/or managers and/or to set wages and rules around profit redistribution. They can design the business so they have no managers or serve […]
From the East Bay Express: Last week, the Cheeseboard’s longtime home committed to a new strategy for fighting economic inequality and building the local economy: city support for worker cooperatives. The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously on Fe.26 to include co-ops in the city’s small-business revolving loan fund; give co-ops, along with women- and minority-owned […]
From the Sustainable Economies Law Center: Last night, Berkeley City Council unanimously adopted a set of recommendations provided by the Sustainable Economies Law Center (Law Center) and a coalition of worker coop members and advocates. In doing so, Berkeley became a national leader in supporting worker cooperative businesses. “Berkeley is among the first US cities […]
Industry: Landscaping Location: Berkeley, California Number of employees: 10 Became employee owned: 2018 Assistance: Sustainable Economies Law Center, Project Equity From the company mariposagardening.com Learn more Berkeleyside – Employee ownership is a win-win for Berkeley’s small businesses, and the community (2020) Pacific Horticulture – Growing a Giving Business (2017) Democracy Collaborative – Converting Businesses to Worker Cooperatives […]
Industry: Pet Services Location: Oakland, California Number of employees: 3 Became employee owned: 2016 Assistance: Sustainable Economies Law Center, Project Equity Learn more https://scruf.coop/ The Model Mutt – Announcing Your Scruf Pet Care Collective (2016) Employee Owned Small Businesses in Pet Services Employee Owned Small Businesses in Washington, DC Employee Owned Small Businesses Assisted by […]