Discover the power
of employee ownership
Whether you own a California business, advise local business owners or want a
thriving economy, find out how employee ownership can work for you
Why is employee ownership a great option?
Are you a California business owner looking for tools to retain employees or build a succession plan? Are you beginning to consider retiring or transitioning your business to another owner?
The perfect buyer for your company may be the ones you work with every day, and the perfect employee engagement strategy might be to give them a stake in your business’s future.

Sources: National Center for Employee Ownership, Democracy at Work Institute, 2018 National Longitudinal Survey, Rutgers University
Employee-owned companies in California
- A Slice of New York
- Adams & Chittenden Scientific Glass
- Alternative Technologies
- Atthowe Fine Art
- California Solar Electric
- Niles Pie Company
- Proof Bakery
- Rockman et al
- The Local Butcher
- Westbrae Nursery
Data courtesy of Certified EO
Schedule a free consultation
California events & webinars
Join us for a free LIVE webinar to learn about employee ownership, and how it can be used to build a succession plan and a tool for employee retention and business...
Are you a business owner thinking about what’s next for your restaurant, bakery, catering, CPG or food manufacturing company? Join us for an important online event to learn how employee...
Jordan Klein
Economic Development Manager,
City of Berkeley

City of Berkeley
Employee ownership as a strategy for business and workforce retention
Small, locally owned businesses are essential to California’s local economy and regional community vitality. Among the challenges the city faces is keeping businesses and the jobs they provide rooted in the community, as the Silver Tsunami – the retirement of baby boomer business owners – impacts the region.
Learn more about curbing the effects of the Silver Tsunami.
In the news
Anchor Brewing Employees Continue Effort to Buy Brewery
Pro Brewer
- N/A
- Sep 14, 2023
Back Anchor Brewing is on its last kegs, sorry its last legs
Angry Bear Blog
- N/A
- Sep 8, 2023
Anchor Brewing Employees Start GoFundMe As Efforts To Buy Closed Brewery Gain Steam
Forbes
- California
- Sep 6, 2023
Employee union launches fundraiser to save Anchor Brewing
The San Francisco Examiner
- N/A
- Sep 5, 2023
San Jose brewery to release ale in solidarity with Anchor SF Union
San Jose Today
- N/A
- Aug 31, 2023
Solidarity Ale! Anchor Brewing workers plan to turn closed company into a co-op
The Real News Network
- N/A
- Aug 29, 2023
About Project Equity and our California partners
As a national organization, Project Equity raises awareness of broad-based employee ownership, and we support businesses in transitioning to this highly beneficial business model. We support this work through amazing local partners.
Learn more
Project Equity was proud to assist Westbrae Nursery located in Berkeley, CA,...
- Berkeley, California
- Jun 15, 2023
In February 2023, Project Equity hosted our inaugural Employee Ownership...
- California
- Apr 28, 2023
- California
- Jan 10, 2023
Project Equity was proud to assist Atthowe Fine Art Services located in...
- California
- Jul 15, 2022