New Economy: Local Capital and Employee-Owned Cooperative Development

New Economy

A New Economy is focused on our overall well-being, making our economic structures and businesses work for us, including more equitable distribution of income and wealth. It is centered around people and the environment in a democratic and participatory way. It prioritizes local and regional businesses and systems, and sustains local community capital focused on community wealth building.

Investing on local community capital is key compoent to building a New Economy. Creating a community investment fund will create a permanent local vehicle for local capital for local businesses, including employee-owned cooperatives.

The role of worker-owned cooparatives in economic development

Community Ventures partnered with Project Equity and Democracy at Work Institute to conduct a market study and provide input into the development of a Community Investment Fund. The study looks at the fund's role in supporting employee-owned cooperatives, including through the sale of existing businesses whose owners are looking to retire to existing employees.

As baby boomer business owners retire, our local business landscape is poised to go through a dramatic shift. With boomers owning about half of all privately-held businesses in the Central Coast Region of California, we will see a massive ownership changeover of locally-held businesses as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of retirements approaches.

Join Us

Community Ventures invites you to come learn about these issues/opportunities and join the conversation. For more information about this event, please email Brando Sencion at [email protected].

Event proudly supported by Co-Op SC and Community Printers