This webinar was part of NLC’s “Shared Equity in Economic Development” program. For more information on shared equity in economic development, visit our web page to view past recordings, blogs and upcoming events.
Communities across the country face a long and uneven road to recovery. As cities, towns and villages look for approaches to repair and rebuild their local economies, worker ownership offers a proven strategy for retaining and creating quality jobs, cultivating and anchoring local ownership, and saving long standing businesses from preventable closures.
As the inaugural event of our Shared Equity Webinar Series (SEWS), the Democracy at Work Institute and the National League of Cities introduced the benefits of worker ownership and shared current examples of city-led initiatives that are meeting community needs. Through simple policies and actions, elected officials and city staff can enable worker ownership as a solution for exiting legacy business owners, struggling small businesses, and workers with barriers to employment.
Key Takeaways:
- An introduction to worker ownership and its benefits to workers, businesses, communities and local economies
- Understanding the current landscape of support for worker ownership as a racial equity strategy.
- Several policies and actions municipalities can take to enable work-ownership business formation in their economic development tool-kit.