Workers to Owners Collaborative Announces First National Employee Ownership Training for SBDC Advisors

SAN DIEGO, CA – The first national training program on employee ownership was launched for Small Business Development Center Advisors (SBDC) and Directors. The program, led by the Workers to Owners Collaborative (W2O) in collaboration with America’s SBDC National Special Interest Section on Employee Ownership and Business Transitions, is a major step forward in supporting small business owners successfully navigate a business exit through sale to their employees. The program benefited 33 SBDC advisors and directors serving small businesses in 19 U.S. states. “Through this program, these advisors are now equipped with a front line toolkit, case studies, and in-depth…

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Vivid Life Home Care Cooperatives: 52 Caregivers Step Into Ownership

The Vivid Life Home Care Cooperatives are a worker-owned home care initiative in California designed to meet the state’s growing demand for quality in-home care while creating stable, dignified jobs. The program benefits caregivers (mostly workers facing low wages and poor working conditions) by offering training, cooperative ownership opportunities, and the chance to build an inclusive industry that uplifts both workers and the seniors they care for. As a founding partner, DAWI…

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Worker Ownership Cities

We have launched the Worker Ownership Cities program to accelerate the national adoption of worker ownership by local governments.

There are over 19,500 cities, towns, and villages in the US and less than 1% include worker ownership in their policies or plans. Despite proven benefits, few cities are aware of how they can deploy employee ownership strategies to address local priorities. 

DAWI at the United Nations: Celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives

This July, DAWI joined global leaders at the United Nations to spotlight the power of worker ownership ahead of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Our Director of Strategic Partnerships, Anh-Thu Nguyen and our Board President, Christine Curella, brought DAWI’s perspective to the global stage: that worker ownership is not only a strategy for local resilience, but also a model for a more just economy worldwide. Anh-Thu Nguyen, represented DAWI and the…

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The School for Democratic Management at DAWI Launches New Online Learning Platform

The School for Democratic Management at DAWI has officially launched a new online learning platform designed to strengthen democratic practices in worker-owned businesses and democratic workplaces. This flexible, bilingual, and self-paced platform offers free practical tools and training for cooperative developers, educators, and worker-owners seeking to deepen their knowledge and leadership skills. With courses on onboarding, facilitation, conflict resolution, governance, and more, the platform helps people access trusted, movement-aligned content that supports long-term cooperative success, without having to build from scratch. Rooted in years of practitioner experience, The School for Democratic Management at DAWI exists to expand access to democratic…

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Democracy at Work Institute Receives New Profit Investment to Expand Economic Opportunity Through Worker Ownership

The Democracy at Work Institute is excited to announce our selection as one of five organizations to join New Profit’s Build Portfolio, which supports organizations “with transformative strategies that advance pathways to income generation and financial health.” DAWI and each of the new Build Portfolio organizations will receive $1.5 million in unrestricted funding, which is provided alongside strategic advisory support. New Profit is a national venture philanthropy organization committed to catalyzing the…

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California Invests $7.5M in Immigrant Entrepreneurship

Funding Approved for Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) 3.0 Grant Program SACRAMENTO, CA – In the new state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, the California State Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom approved $7.5 million to continue investing in entrepreneurship for immigrant workers through the Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) program. This funding enables community-based organizations to provide entrepreneurship training, technical assistance, and microgrants to immigrants and individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Economic Mobility for All (EM4A) Coalition and SEED co-sponsors - California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), Immigrants Rising, Inclusive Action for the City, and Democracy at…

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Estado del sector 2023

Estado del Sector 2023

Cubriendo 10 años de avances empresariales, el Estado del Sector de las Cooperativas de Trabajadores y Lugares de Trabajo Democráticos es un reporte sobre los lugares de trabajo de propiedad colectiva y gestión democrática en los Estados Unidos y sus territorios. Esta investigación es una co-producción del Instituto de Democracia en el Trabajo y la Federación de Cooperativas de Trabajadores de E.E.U.U.. Se basa en los desarrollos más recientes del sector, recopilados en el Censo de Empresas Cooperativas de Trabajadores, y es una herramienta esencial para comprender este campo.

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Expanding Your Worker Cooperative Business: A Guide to Licensing & Franchising

This Guide is for worker owners, cooperative developers, lawyers, technical assistance providers and others thinking about expanding worker cooperative businesses. We focus specifically on expansion through licensing and franchising. Licensing and franchising are ways to allow another business to use elements of your business. New businesses can grow using elements of your business, and together, you may be able to reach economies of scale.

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2023 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report

Author(s) : Democracy at Work Institute and United States Federation of Worker Cooperatives

Covering two years of business progress, the 2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector is a report on worker-owned and democratic workplaces in the United States. This report is a co-production of Democracy at Work Institute and the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives. The report draws upon the latest developments in the field and deepens our understanding of the sector.