From NPR:

Some Illinois lawmakers want to make it easier for worker cooperatives to grow. Co-ops allow their employees to also be the owners. But state law doesn’t recognize them as a business entity, which makes it hard to get financial backing. State Rep. Carol Ammons, a Democrat from Urbana, is sponsoring legislation that would change that. “It’s very difficult for traditional banking institutions to work with a cooperative model, unless we correct the legal definition of cooperatives,” Ammons said. Advocates say worker co-ops create dignified jobs with living wages in areas with low employment. “We have seen that worker cooperatives are a proven model for communities of color to own and grow their businesses democratically, generate a healthy income and learn how to work together.” said Ana Guajardo Carillo, executive director of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos (United Workers Center).

Get the full story here:

http://www.nprillinois.org/post/illinois-proposal-aims-empower-worker-co-ops#stream/0