In a recent census, Massachusetts was reported to have 168 employee-owned businesses including cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Massachusetts also has an ecosystem to support employee ownership, and employee-owned businesses are growing. According to the Massachusetts Employee Ownership Census, the number of worker-owned cooperatives in the Commonwealth nearly tripled between 2010 and 2022. That growth continues.
In 2024, uniting the legislative support state-wide is The Coalition for Worker Ownership and Power (COWOP). On Feb 28, 2024 during a lobby day at the State House, COWOP brought together ESOP representation, affiliated organizations, and individuals to push for legislative action. Current Senator Lydia Edwards joined the event.
One of two specific asks for state legislators at the State House was funding the Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership (MassCEO) which provides training, education, and direct assistance to grow and sustain the efforts of employee-owned businesses in the state. Joining the team February 28th was the visionary of MassCEO, former State Senator David Magnani, who initiated the MassCEO Enabling Act in the 1980s. COWOP won a milestone victory with the passing of the MassCEO Enabling Act in 2022, establishing MassCEO as a state office. Following up with action at the State House, COWOP is holding Massachusetts legislators to their word and asking them to fund MassCEO with $685,000 for hiring a director and other expenses.
The second specific ask for the lobby day event requested support for Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA). COWOP is calling on legislators to fully fund the SBTA by retaining the $7.5 million in Governor Healey’s draft FY25 budget. These asks bring rewards for the state. Employee-owned businesses have proven to be sustainable and contribute to local communities by keeping resources local.
COWOP envisions a world where workers are valued decision makers, with agency and ideas that get implemented in our workplaces. Worker-owned cooperatives bring this vision to life by giving everyday people power over their work. Go to https://bit.ly/COWOPLegDay to tell your MA legislators to invest in the well being of workers and the economy in the Massachusetts.
