From the Huffington Post: In a 4,000-square-foot industrial space tucked away in a West Berkeley neighborhood, a team of glass blowers is hard at work. In one corner, a young man named Sam is repairing a piece of laboratory glassware used for cannabis distillation, the bright orange flames from his lathe dancing just inches from […]
From Truthout: It’s been more than 10 years since the financial crisis of 2008, and working people are still being hammered by its effects — stagnating wages, a widening gap between the rich and the poor, and a rise in the sharing economy to meet basic needs. At the same time, one legacy of the […]
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 […]
Davis Home Pros is a 15-person residential remodeling cooperative in Walnut Creek California. The selling owners had worked hard with employees to create a positive workplace culture centered around quality craftsmanship, customer service, and reasonable prices. About three years from retirement, they were looking for an innovative succession plan and committed to worker ownership. The […]
From the Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department: The City of Los Angeles Economic and & Workforce Development Department recognizes Concerned Capital for transition of ownership work done to avert layoffs. The strategy was to target companies with retiring business owners and help workers buy the company. In 2016, EWDD awarded a contract to Concerned […]
From the San Francisco Chronicle “I’ve been approaching retirement for a long time,” Adams said with a chuckle. “I couldn’t imagine being 80 and carrying on at the same level, but how else do you do it? Sell it to somebody? Close the doors?” Sure, they could sell their glassblowing lathes, torches and ovens, but […]
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: Solar Location: California Number of employees: 80 Became employee owned: 2018 Assistance: ICA Group, Beyster Institute Learn more Sun Light & Power – California solar solutions provider, Sun Light & Power, becomes 100% employee owned Staubus – The Cooperative / ESOP Hybrid: The Best of Both (slides) North Bay Business Journal – Employee ownership embraced by […]
Industry: Shipping Location: Los Angeles, California Number of employees: 8 Became employee owned: 2018 Assistance: Concerned Capital Learn more Los Angeles EWDD – LA Economic & Workforce Development helps transition company ownership from retiring owners to long term employees Employee Owned Small Businesses in California Employee Owned Small Businesses Assisted by Concerned Capital