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A practical guide helping local governments integrate employee ownership into economic development and workforce strategies, particularly using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) recovery funds.
Three Core Strategies ("Plays"):
Play #1 – Legacy Business Transitions: Help retiring Baby Boomer business owners sell to their employees instead of closing or selling to outside buyers. Start by mapping local legacy businesses, then train existing service providers to make referrals, and consider amending loan programs to support conversions.
Play #2 – Quality Job Creation: Launch worker cooperatives to create dignified employment for people facing barriers (immigrants, formerly incarcerated individuals, those in exploited industries like home care). Cities can serve as anchor clients to help new co-ops establish revenue.
Play #3 – Secondary Cooperatives: Help microbusinesses (especially in hard-hit sectors like restaurants and childcare) pool resources through shared purchasing, marketing, or administrative cooperatives to reduce costs and access larger contracts.
Key Takeaway: Local governments don't need in-house expertise—they can convene partners, amend existing programs, and connect business owners to specialized technical assistance providers to achieve meaningful results.