Employee ownership (EO) is a powerful strategy to build more resilient local communities. Yet, unlocking the power of EO requires a fully activated and well-connected network of organizations and resources working together to build awareness.
How to use this toolkit
Â
Awareness is our greatest challenge when it comes to retaining businesses and creating a more resilient local economy through employee ownership. We hope you will use this toolkit to educate your audience about employee ownership.
This toolkit offers sample messaging you can use to get the word out about employee ownership using your platform—take the messages as they are or edit them and make them your own!
An easy way to share
Â
In addition to this toolkit, an easy way to share the latest information on employee ownership is to follow Project Equity and share our posts.
Sample newsletter article or feature
As Chicago business owners near retirement, could employee ownership help keep businesses and jobs intact?
According to a study by Project Equity, more than 50,000 businesses in Cook County have owners aged 55 or older. This Silver Tsunami of retirements will effect roughly 592,000 employees and $127 billion in revenue. Without a succession plan, these local businesses and jobs are at risk. Additionally, the recruitment and retention of employees have become more challenging for business owners, slowing their recovery and growth.
This is a critical time for business owners to consider pathways to retirement—particularly how employee ownership can address current business needs.
Employee ownership is a proven model in which employees, often a majority of the workforce, have an ownership stake in the business. Research shows these companies often outperform their peers, with higher profits and lower turnover. See how the Chicago Center for Relationship Counseling successfully made the transition.
[insert your organization here] is partnering with other organizations in the region to build awareness of employee ownership.Â
If you are a business owner wanting to explore employee ownership, you can schedule a free consultation with Project Equity, a national EO expert.
Business advisors can learn more about how to talk about employee ownership with their clients here.
We believe employee ownership can help build a stronger local economy. Join us to learn more!
Sample LinkedIn posts
Message #1: Silver Tsunami
Did you know that more than 50,000 businesses in Cook County have owners aged 55 or older? Preserving these businesses and jobs is critical to our local economy.
Employee ownership offers a path to keep these businesses open, protect jobs, and retain local ownership.Â
Learn more at https://project-equity.org/impact/regional-initiatives/illinois/chicago
#EOinChicago #employeeownership #chicago #cookcounty
Message #2: EO as a business performance & resilience strategy
As businesses search for strategies to recruit and retain employees, employee ownership is a proven model for strengthening business performance and resilience. Learn more by visiting https://project-equity.org/news/employee-ownership-insider/job-quality-business-resilience
#EOinChicago #employeeownership #chicago
Message #3: Local example of EO
Business owners in the Chicago region are choosing employee ownership as a strategy to preserve their legacy. Read the story of why a local business owner sold his business to his employees: https://project-equity.org/press-releases/chicago-center-for-relationship-counseling-becomes-employee-owned
#EOinChicago #employeeownership #chicagoÂ
Message #4: EO for business advisors and connectors
The retirement of local business owners presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Chicago.Â
Employee ownership is a vital tool for advisors helping clients navigate succession and keep businesses thriving locally. Learn about EO as an exit strategy for your clients by visiting: https://project-equity.org/learn/eo-advantage-learning-products
#EOinChicago #employeeownership #chicago
Message #5: Learn more about EO
Local businesses are the backbone of our regional economy. If you’re a business owner, now is the time to start planning your succession and to consider whether employee ownership could be the right exit strategy. Schedule a free consultation with Project Equity, our national EO expert, to explore your options:
https://project-equity.org/free-consultationÂ
#EOinChicago #employeeownership #chicago
Interested in incorporating employee ownership into your organization’s work or programming?
Â
We’d love to partner with you! This could include hosting an Intro to EO virtual workshop for your team or partners in your network, or co-hosting a Succession Planning & EO webinar for your business owner constituents to explore whether EO could be a good fit. Project Equity can also help identify other ways to integrate EO into your offerings.
Service providers, business advisors, and other economic development organizations that want to learn more about EO and how Project Equity can support your work are encouraged to schedule time with our team using the link below.
