Grants to convert small businesses to worker cooperatives
Resident asks for a grant fund, led by the Worker Cooperative Initiative, to help retiring owners and employees convert small businesses into worker co-ops and keep local jobs.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
Boston risks losing small businesses due to owners retiring en mass ("silver tsunami"). A grant fund led by the City's Worker Cooperative Initiative would support owners and employees with the costs of converting businesses to worker cooperatives.
Who it helps and why
Removing cost barriers for worker cooperative conversions makes small business ownership more accessible to communities with less capital on hand. Conversions allow existing owners to retire without closing down shop, while cooperatives keep the jobs, profits, and decision-making with the local employee-owners that are often lower-wage, minority or immigrant employees with no other path to ownership.
Details
- Cycle
- 2026–27
- Submitted
- August 7, 2026
- Neighborhood
- City-wide
- Portal category
- Economy & Workers
- How it was submitted
- Individual submission
- Submission language
- English
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
City-wide ideas in Adult jobs & small business from the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2025–26 (31 matching)
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2024–25 (32 matching)
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