Please provide a brief update on your progress toward your proposed CWB goals in the last reporting period:
Project Equity is thankful for a successful partnership with the City of Chicago and CCWBE. Over the course of this partnership, we have engaged more than 500 local business connectors to educate them on employee ownership, piloted and launched and accredited course on employee ownership for business advisors, and supported several Chicago businesses on their EO journey, including one that has begun their transition to an employee-owned entity.
What constraints or limitations, if any, did you experience in the last reporting period?
None
What opportunities, if any, did you take advantage of in the last reporting period?
None
Did you establish new CWB relationships/partnerships in the last reporting period?
No
Please describe the relationships you established pertaining to your CWB work.
Did you collaborate with other TA providers in the last reporting period?
Yes
Which TA provider(s) did you work with?
Revolution Institute
Please share on behalf of whom / which projects you collaborated with the TA providers above:
We are exploring continued collaboration with Revolution Institute to find and serve additional Chicago businesses that want to transition.
Did you attend the Working Group meeting last month?
No
How would you rate the usefulness of the working group to your project last month? (on a scale of 1-5)
5 extremely useful
Optional Space
Community Area(s) (select all that apply)
| Community Area | Participants Served in this Community Area |
|---|---|
| Lincoln Park | 37 |
Race / Ethnicity of Participants (select all that apply)
Other Race/Ethnicity (please specify)
Unknown
Gender identity of Participants (select all that apply)
Age Range of Participants (select all that apply)
How many sessions of one-on-one consulting to Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. one group or individual with one training provider)?
1
How many group workshops for Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you conduct this reporting period? (e.g. convenings, workshops, events, etc.)
0
How many hours of support to CWB Pre-Development Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
20
How many hours of support to existing Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers did you provide this reporting period?
0
How many co-op businesses did you develop last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
How many jobs were created overall last reporting period? (It's okay if the answer is 0)
0
Please list the Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers Organizations you worked with this reporting period.
Other organization (please specify):
N/A
What type(s) of Technical Assistance did you provide to Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers this reporting period? Select all that apply.
Did you provide education to any Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers this reporting period?
No
What are the greatest needs that your WC clients/partners expressed in this reporting period?
Interest in employee ownership conversion as a succession/exit plan
What are the greatest gaps in service or resources in Chicago's CWB ecosystem?
Awareness of coops as an exit/succession options among existing business owners and business advisors (i.e. exit planners,CPAs, etc.)
Please share any direct testimonials from Worker Cooperatives, Conversions, or Co-op Developers clients or storytelling about the impact of your work this period:
Please upload media (document with testimonials, photos, or video links) from WC workshops or events held.
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Project-Equity-Chicago-Final-Report.pdf
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Project-Equity-ExitPro-101-course-description.pdf
https://ccwbe.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Project-Equity-Work-Program-Final-Report.xlsx
Did your organization provide any additional TA support this reporting period that was NOT covered in the previous tabs?
Yes
Please describe the type(s) of organizations you supported (i.e. nonprofits, business service orgs, etc.)
Project Equity does not serve existing worker coops, but we provide a lot of technical assistance to non-coops that want to transition to worker coops. So far, we have provided one-on-one EO technical assistance to 6 businesses in Chicago, three of which have completed a formal employee ownership feasibility assessment process. EO consultations usually involve 1-3 one hour phone calls with a business. EO feasibility assessments are usually a 2-4 month technical assistance engagement per business. In November, we began supporting one of these businesses on their 9-12 month transition to a new, employee owned entity! All together, this accounted for about 500 hours or more of technical assistance over the course of our agreement.
How many total organizations or entities did you support (that were not covered in the previous tabs)?
0
How many total hours of support did you provide to these organizations?
500
Please share any other relevant details about the support you provided these organizations:
Please see attached reports
