Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed legislation Wednesday that creates a statutory vehicle for the creation and functioning of workers’ cooperatives. According to a General Assembly spokesperson, the bill creates an incentive for workers to create enterprises that are democratically controlled and operated by their own employees. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Shelby Maldonado, D-Central Falls, and Sen. Donna Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket. “Workers’ cooperatives increase productivity by empowering workers,” Maldonado said. “This is a good business model for the community because it provides a system more concerned with the welfare of its workers than in short-term profits. It’s also better economically for the state because we’ll have more people employed and making more money.”