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🔋 Project Power

State Centers turn project grants into built-to-last EO tools that strengthen the EOX Network

We have shared quite a bit about the EOX Grant Program that launched last year; how capacity grants helped State Centers hire staff and build infrastructure. How storytelling grants lifted up real EO stories from across the network. We are now excited to share updates on the project grants that were simultaneously being developed across the EOX Network.

While capacity grants helped Centers get up and running, project grants helped them build concrete tools, pilots, and collaborations that make employee ownership easier to explore and access.

EOX project grants in 2025 supported work like...

• Creating owner-readiness and succession planning materials that speak to business owners in plain language and encourage them to start planning years before a transition.
  

• Designing training and outreach for advisors and “EO ambassadors” – CPAs, SBDCs, exit planners, and economic development professionals who can bring EO into conversations with their own clients.
  

• Developing repeatable programs and toolkits (like webinar formats, slide decks, and follow-up processes) that other State Centers can adapt instead of starting from scratch.
  

• Building coalitions and convenings in key regions to bring together ESOP, co-op, EOT, and other stakeholders around shared goals.
  

• Producing research and resources on newer ownership models and creating narrative platforms (like podcasts or story-driven content) that lift up lived experience in employee-owned companies.

What these projects have in common is that they’re built to last. The dollars are one-time, but the outputs stick around: owner guides that can be reprinted, advisor trainings that can be rerun, curricula that can be shared across states, and content that keeps doing quiet work long after the grant period ends.

In other words, capacity grants have helped State Centers take off. Project grants are helping them build the shared tools and infrastructure the entire EOX Network can use.

You can learn more about how project grants are structured, and see an overview of the projects funded so far, on our State Center Grant Program page (jump to the Project Grants section).

CLICK TO SEE WHAT THE STATE CENTERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON

EOX ON THE MOVE

Elle Carne joins the main stage in Ft. Lauderdale
Our Deputy Director represented the EOX Network on a panel discussing workplace burnout at the NCEO Women's Summit.

Huge shoutout to Elle for sharing the power of employee ownership with amazing women in the EO world. It's remarkable to see EOX and the State Center Network so well represented at this year's inaugural NCEO Women's Summit.

And to our dear friend, Betsy Bassan, who delivered a brilliant keynote about creating meaningful impact — THANK YOU for bringing awareness to the NCEOX Inclusivity Fund and sharing how "employee ownership is a powerful tool to drive business success while building more durable, equitable, and innovative businesses.”
READ MORE →

EOX Joins the ESCA Leadership Summit
Thank you to the staff at the Employee Owned S Corporations of America for inviting us.

It was nice to see so many influential large ESOP-owned companies gather together to learn from each other and hear the insight on the political landscape for ESOPs and businesses in general. It was also great to hear from the members of Congress who attended and showed their support for ESOPs - Congressman Rudy Yakman (IN) (shown in the picture talking to the crowd), Senator Bill Cassidy (LA), and Senator Mike Crapo (ID). The work that ESCA does to keep ESOPs top of mind for members of Congress is impressive. Help us congratulate them on another great conference.

FOLLOW US ON LinkedIn!
Keep in touch with our upcoming travels. Who knows, you might even get tagged in a post when we cross paths.

As we begin to ramp up our 2026 travels, we've also set a goal of increasing our LinkedIn following by 40%.

Please follow us if you do not already and help us reach our goal.
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Or even better...encourage your followers to also follow us! Because who DOESN'T need to know about employee ownership?

NEWS ACROSS THE EOX NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT: WACEO launches the WACEO-Inland and WACEO-WEST Regional Connector Groups

These Regional Connector Groups (RCGs) are coalitions of local experts and enthusiasts committed to embedding employee ownership into the region’s economic ecosystem. The groups ensure that EO is not a one-time conversation—but a lasting part of how the State Center supports businesses, workers, and communities.
READ HERE →

ALCEO announces their Local Legacy Campaign Launch Party, an initiative to keep Birmingham's economy strong and local →

GACEO joins RICE, Georgia AIM, and GaMEP bringing the AI In Mnf. Mobile Unit to Augusta Industrial Services for day of discussion →

FLCEO attends NCEO's educational workshop, focused on helping business owners determine if an ESOP is right for them →

IACEO continues to see Dr. Leslie K. Wilson's TEDx Talk gain momentum, reaching 30K views already →

ILCEO announces their search for a full-time Executive Director, following remarkable chapter under Haydee Caldero's leadership →

MICEO is seeking input from business owners in rural Michigan to shape future support ecosystem →

NCEOC is to begin working with the LISC and other grantees, assisting 200 businesses recovering from Hurricane Helene →

RMEOC attends the 8th Annual National Home Care Cooperative Conference, leaving inspired by those shaping the future of care →

TNCEO proudly attends Board President, Shannon Litton's brilliant keynote opening the NCEO Inaugural Women's Summit →

TXCEO joins Andy Hines at the Southwest Pool & Spa Show to share how ESOPs can be powerful succession plans →

UPCOMING EVENTS

🗓️ Check out the EOX Events Calendar!

WEBINAR — Beyond Retirement — The Real Story of ESOP Payouts

hosted by EOX and Deanalytics | EOX Presents Rutgers Data Study

March 12, 2026 | 1:00 - 1:30 PM ET

REGISTER →

CONFERENCE — NCEO Annual Conference

hosted by the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)

April 6-9, 2026 | Milwaukee, WI

REGISTER →

CONVENING — ILCEO April Legislative Advocacy Day

hosted by the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership (ILCEO)

April 14, 2026 | Springfield, IL

REGISTER →

PROGRAM — Leadership Program for ESOP CEOs and Presidents

hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy and the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)

July 26, 2026 [Session 1] | Philadelphia, PA
LEARN MORE →

EO IN THE NEWS

EO Service Provider Spotlight: AmbroseAdvisors — longtime supporter of EOX — helps Fresno favorite Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria go 100% employee-owned, giving workers at more than 60 locations a real stake in the business and keeping this long-time local institution rooted in its community.
READ MORE →

EOX Board Member, Philip Reeves, with Apis & Heritage Capital Partners shares "The promise of employee ownership" with well-known McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility.
WATCH THE INTERVIEW →

HAVE YOU SUBSCRIBED?
EOX encourages all of our readers to subscribe to The Stakehold — a weekly newsletter on all things employee ownership (and then some), including purpose trust ownership, steward ownership, workplace democracy, and the ownership economy.

This is the best way to stay up-to-date in real time while you wait for EOX's monthly publications.

POLICY CORNER

Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Passes Legislation Including $2M For Employee Ownership Initiative created by the WORK Act

The U.S. Senate has passed a funding package that includes $2 million for the Employee Ownership Initiative (EOI) at the Department of Labor, first created by the WORK Act inside SECURE 2.0. This money will seed a federal grant program to support outreach, education, and technical assistance for employee ownership at the state and local level, aligning closely with the kind of work State Centers and EOX are already doing on the ground.
READ HERE →

EO RESOURCE

🤝 Leadership Program for ESOP CEOs and Presidents
Presented by UPenn Center for Societal Impact Strategy and supported by the National Center for Employee Ownership, working to enhance ESOP company leadership as a core component of success.
CHECK IT OUT →

SUPPORT EOX

Want to get more involved in a State Center near you or at the national level? Please email Steve Storkan at sstorkan@eoxnetwork.org.

If you're interested in donating to support our work to expand employee ownership across the United States, please click the button below to make a tax-deductible gift to the Employee Ownership Expansion Network!

EOX EIN: 83-2849677

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