Washington Center for Employee Ownership - WACEO

05/27/2026

We recently had the chance to connect with local business leaders at the Langley Chamber of Commerce members meeting.

WACEO had the opportunity to present on employee ownership and discuss how employee-owned businesses can strengthen local economies, support business succession, and create long-term community wealth.

These conversations matter — especially for small towns and rural communities looking for ways to keep businesses locally rooted while giving employees a real stake in the future.

Thank you to the Langley Chamber for the invitation and to everyone who joined the discussion and shared thoughtful questions and ideas. Excited to continue building awareness about employee ownership across Washington communities.

05/21/2026

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05/19/2026

📖 Join us for an Employee Ownership Story Hour featuring Heartsong Homecare Cooperative!

Come hear the story of how Heartsong became a worker-owned cooperative and what employee ownership has meant for their workers, clients, and community. This is a chance to connect with local business leaders, community members, and others interested in building stronger, community-rooted businesses through employee ownership.

We’ll share food, conversation, and real-world lessons from a business putting ownership into the hands of the people who make it thrive every day.

Whether you’re curious about employee ownership, exploring succession options for your business, or simply want to meet others passionate about local economic resilience, we’d love to see you there.

May 29th 2026
5:30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.
390 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Register here: https://luma.com/y8ihdyw8

05/06/2026

❤️ Join us for an inspiring Employee Ownership Story Hour featuring Heartsong Homecare Cooperative! ❤️

📅 May 29
⏰ 5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍 390 NE Midway Blvd, Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Register Here: https://luma.com/y8ihdyw8

Come hear firsthand how employee ownership is transforming workplaces and empowering communities. This is a great opportunity to connect, learn, and explore what’s possible when employees have a real stake in the business.

Whether you’re curious about cooperative models, passionate about workplace equity, or just want to hear a powerful story—this event is for you.

We’d love to see you there!

❤️ Join us for an inspiring Employee Ownership Story Hour featuring Heartsong Homecare Cooperative! ❤️ Come hear firsthand how employee ownership is…

05/04/2026

🏘️ We were honored to participate in the Main Street America leadership gathering last week in Colfax, WA.

Strengthening Main Street ecosystems, particularly in rural communities, requires thoughtful collaboration and a range of strategies. Employee ownership plays an important role in sustaining the character and vitality of local economies, and we appreciated being included in this important discussion.

It was great having the chance to share perspectives on employee ownership with our partners at Inland Cooperative Services. We left the gathering feeling inspired by the incredible work happening across Main Street communities!

04/21/2026

🌟You're invited to join us in Skagit County for an evening of connection, conversation, and community 🌟

On April 30 from 5:30–7:00 PM, the Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO) is hosting an Employee Ownership Story Hour, featuring Industrial Resources as our spotlight guest.

Come hear firsthand about Industrial Resources’ journey as an ESOP, connect with others who care about building strong, community-rooted businesses, and learn more about the work WACEO is doing across Washington. We’ll also have food and plenty of time to network and share ideas.

Whether you're a business owner, employee, or simply curious about employee ownership, this event is open to all.

📅 April 30 | 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Skagit County

Reserve your spot here: https://luma.com/ulv6omto

We hope to see you there!

04/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Spokane for such a warm and engaging community gathering at The Grain Shed 🌾

We’re so grateful to be in community with folks who are curious about, committed to, and inspired by employee ownership. From thoughtful questions to new connections, the energy in the room was a powerful reminder of the momentum building around worker ownership in our region.

A special thank you to our partners at Inland Cooperative Services for co-hosting and helping make this space so welcoming and meaningful.

If you’ve been exploring employee ownership or are just starting to learn, we’re excited to keep the conversation going. There’s a growing community here and you’re all a part of it.

Stay tuned for more gatherings, and we hope to see you again soon!

Upcoming event information: https://luma.com/calendar/manage/cal-vTBVlA8uBeu72fV

04/14/2026

Join us this week in Spokane for a warm and welcoming community gathering! 🌾

The Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO) and the Inland Cooperative Services (ICS) invite you to our Employee Ownership Community Spaces series—this time at The Grain Shed.

This casual, friendly meetup is a chance to:
✨ Learn about employee ownership
✨ Meet folks passionate about worker ownership
✨ Ask questions about this growing movement
✨ Connect with others in your community

Whether you’ve been curious about employee ownership, have heard about WACEO, or simply enjoy meeting new people, this is a great opportunity to stop by, settle in, and learn something new.

We’re coming together to connect, celebrate our region’s cooperative spirit, and help spread the word about WACEO. Whether you're deeply familiar with co-ops or just starting to explore, you are welcome here.

📍 Come as you are. Stay as long as you like.

👉 Register here: https://luma.com/qfosur5h

04/07/2026

🧀 We’re glad to be in Milwaukee this week for the NCEO 2026 Conference, diving deep into the future of employee ownership. 🧀

So far, we’re seeing a strong focus on ownership transitions, inclusive governance, and how to build cultures where employee ownership goes beyond shares on paper to real participation. From ESOP sustainability to the growth of worker cooperatives and Employee Ownership Trusts, the conversations are grounded in a shared question: how do we make ownership work for *all* employees?

We have also been admiring the work of the resident "Cheese Carver" on display at the exhibition hall!

If you’re here and thinking about ownership transitions, democratic governance, or expanding access to shared ownership, we’d love to connect.

04/02/2026

What if the path to ownership isn’t just about buying a home—but owning where you work?

This article highlights a powerful reality: for many people, traditional wealth-building avenues like homeownership are increasingly out of reach. But there’s another path that doesn’t get nearly enough attention—employee ownership.

Worker cooperatives and broad-based ownership models give employees a real stake in the businesses they help build. That means shared profits, democratic decision-making, and long-term stability rooted in the people doing the work—not distant shareholders.

In Washington State and beyond, we’re seeing growing momentum behind these models as tools for economic resilience and equity. Just like affordable housing, employee ownership can be part of the infrastructure that helps communities thrive.

If we’re serious about closing wealth gaps and building more inclusive economies, we need to expand how we think about ownership.

🏠 What if your workplace could be part of your wealth-building strategy?

Read the full article here: https://medium.com//cant-buy-a-house-how-about-your-workplace-a7f562088e27

Millenials locked out of the housing market have another option to build wealth