The multi-million dollar Fund enables business owners to secure their retirement while saving jobs and broadening ownership
On Sep 15, we launched the 2022 Business Legacy Fund, which helps broaden business ownership in 2 different situations.
First, the Fund can help retiring business owners sell their company to their employees, saving jobs while securing their retirement.
Second, it can enable business owners to broaden ownership to their employees while continuing to work with their business.
Benefits to business owners include selling for fair-market value while gaining tax advantages. Community benefits include broadening ownership and creating long-term business stability.
Businesses can apply to participate in the Fund by Nov 15 at becomeworkerowned.org.
“The Business Legacy Fund is an innovative way for retiring business owners to sell their businesses for fair-market value and preserve local jobs, but more importantly, the Fund will help create a more resilient and stable economy for our city’s future.”
A growing wave
This year, our Fund helped 2 local companies become worker-owned: Shine Nurture Center, a nature-oriented childcare center; and Heritage Hill, an apparel company that celebrates Black culture.
They're not alone. Businesses around the country are becoming worker-owned.
Testimonial
“We were concerned about what would happen when we eventually retire.… This is a structure that allows the company to continue forward into the future.”
— Tom Ewing and Tim James, founders of Ewing Controls in Greenfield, MA, which became worker owned in 2017
Our Harvest celebrates 10th anniversary with local food and music festival
Join Our Harvest in celebrating their 10-year anniversary!
Our Harvest has spent the last decade creating access to healthy, local food in a way that honors land and labor, all while training the next generation of farmers!
Support them by registering for their 10th anniversary celebration, which includes local, fresh, nutrient-dense food straight from their farm and partners, as well as locally sourced drinks, a farm tour, and music!
The celebration will be 5-8 pm on Saturday, October 1 at Bahr Farm in Finneytown.
Making new connections at Worker Co-op Conference
Staff traveled with members of our co-op network to the Worker Co-op Conference, held in Philadelphia on Sep 9 and 10.
The conference inspired new co-op strategies and collaborations, influenced our approaches as co-op developers and members, and connected us with workers from co-ops around the country!
Here's a photo of some of us at the conference with our friends from Co-op Dayton!
Co-op tours continue
We've got more free co-op tours coming up! Dates:
Fri Sep 16 from 9-11 am
Fri Oct 14 from 1-3 pm
Movement news
Mondragon in The New Yorker
In case you missed it, The New Yorker put a spotlight on the Mondragon network of co-ops, the largest in the world! Check out the article.
Mondragon’s network of co-ops, which was provided long-term growth and stability in the Basque region of Spain, is an inspiration for our own co-op network.
From our History page: “Mondragon’s durable business model is the foundation for our efforts to create competitive enterprises, foster social and economic justice, and empower worker dignity by creating jobs accountable to workers and communities.”
Also, the Basque region of Spain has a similar population size to Greater Cincinnati…
Business for Democracy Launches
The American Sustainable Business Network has launched Business for Democracy, a national campaign to raise the trusted voice of small business on the need to strengthen and protect American democracy.
Learn more at businessfordemocracy.us.
Upcoming events
Fri Sep 16 from 9-11 am: Co-op Cincy co-op tour. To learn more and sign up, see this questionnaire.
Fri Sep 23-Sun Sep 25: Massage for the People has their first workshop for massage therapists. Called Discovering Integrative Craniosacral Therapy, it will be at SHI Integrative Massage School and will be led by Matthew Howe, an NCBTMB-approved provider. Learn more and register.
Sun Oct 1 from 5-8 pm: Our Harvest 10th anniversary celebration & music festival. Learn more and register.
Mon Oct 10 from 6-7:30 pm at McKie Recreation Center: Meeting 2 of the Green Cincinnati Plan’s Buildings and Energy Subcommittee. At the meeting, the public can provide recommendations to guide goals, strategies, and actions for our City in the coming years. Flequer Vera from Sustainergy Cooperative is part of the steering committee.
Thu Oct 13 & Fri Oct 14: 3rd Biennial Cooperative Law Conference, which features Kristen Barker, executive director of Co-op Cincy, as a speaker.
Fri Oct 14 from 1-3 pm: Co-op Cincy co-op tour. To learn more and sign up, see this questionnaire.
