🌱 Capacity Matters

EOX awards $905k in new capacity grants, bringing total grant deployment to $2.08M

Employee ownership does not expand on its own. It takes people on the ground who can meet with business owners, build trust with advisors and community partners, and keep the conversation moving so that EO is a go-to option.

Capacity grants help make that possible.

EOX has just awarded $905,000 in new capacity grants to State Centers across the network, bringing total deployment through the EOX Grant Program to more than $2.08 million. These funds help State Centers hire staff, stay steady, and keep showing up in the places where employee ownership can take root.

State Centers are where EO expansion really happens. They are the local presence bridging business owners and tangible support for succession planning and EO navigation. They simultaneously help partners understand EO as a serious strategy, creating a helpful ecosystem that is accessible to business owners.

This round of grants is just the latest step in EOX Network's journey to become stronger, more durable, and better equipped to help more businesses choose employee ownership.

LEARN MORE

CLICK TO SEE HOW THE EOX GRANT PROGRAM IS MAKING AN IMPACT

EOX ON THE MOVE

Elle Carne attends NADO's '26 Washington Conference
Our Deputy Director spreads the power of employee ownership with the National Association of Development Organizations.

At the 2026 NADO & DDAA Washington Conference in DC, Elle represented EOX in a space where federal policy, regional development, and rural capacity intersect. It was a strong reminder that employee ownership has a clear role to play in the long-term economic health of communities across the country.

Steve Storkan moderates panel at the 2026 Enterprising Women Conference
Panelists discussed why employee ownership is gaining traction as a practical business strategy, not just an exit plan.

At the Enterprising Women conference in New Orleans, on behalf of the NCEOX Inclusivity Fund, Steve moderated a standout panel on how shared ownership can strengthen performance, culture, and long-term business success. Joined by Betsy Bassan of Panagora Group, Gina Schaefer of the Cool Hardware Company, and Lindsay Issac of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), the panel helped bring employee ownership into a national gathering of women entrepreneurs and business leaders already thinking hard about growth, transition, and legacy. Huge thanks to these amazing women and friends of EOX who helped shine a spotlight on EO.

Steve speaks at the VMG18 Spring Meeting
Succession planning takes center stage with veterinary business leaders.

At the Veterinary Management Group (VMG18) Spring 2026 Meeting, Steve spoke with a full room of veterinary business leaders at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala about employee ownership. It was a great example of how EO is resonating well beyond the usual circles, especially with owners thinking seriously about succession, leadership, and the long-term future of their practices. Getting to explore unique places in our travels like the World Equestrian Center in Ocala is an added bonus to our mission-focused travels.

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NEWS ACROSS THE EOX NETWORK

SPOTLIGHT: TXCEO co-hosts inaugural Purpose Trust Ownership Conference in Austin

TXCEO helped bring new ownership conversations to life by cohosting the inaugural Purpose Trust Ownership Conference with the Purpose Trust Ownership Network (PTON). TXCEO Executive Director, Taylor Knickel, also welcomed attendees to Texas with a memorable Howdy Hour reception. By gathering owners, advisors, advocates, and State Center leaders around emerging ownership models, TXCEO showed exactly what strong State Centers do best: collaborate with leading EO organizations to connect people, grow awareness, and widen the path to employee ownership in their state and beyond.
READ HERE →

ALCEO launches the Local Legacy Campaign with the goal of connecting businesses to financial support for EO transitions →

GACEO attends the Georgia Chamber Women Who Lead Conference, sponsored in part by two employee-owned businesses →

IACEO announces details for their 4th Annual Employee Ownership Conference in Ankeny, IA →

ILCEO to host a spring EO Advocacy Day, aiming to pass Bill SB2982. RSVP today →

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

MOCEO promotes their recently-launched Kansas City Task Force, made possible with Kauffman Foundation support →

NCEOC joins innovation cohort meeting in Asheville as part of the ROOTS collaborative partnership →

OEOC welcomes Music Box Supper Club to the Ohio employee ownership family as the state's latest EOT →

WACEO to present alongside Inland Cooperative Services at the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane →

UPCOMING EVENTS

🗓️ Check out the EOX Events Calendar!

SEE EVENTS

CONFERENCE — NCEO Annual Conference

hosted by the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO)

April 6-9, 2026 | Milwaukee, WI

REGISTER →

RECEPTION — Building Local Bridges with EOX State Centers

hosted by the EOX at the NCEO Annual Conference at 5:45 pm

April 8, 2026 | Milwaukee, WI

AGENDA →

CONVENING — ILCEO April Legislative Advocacy Day

hosted by the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership (ILCEO)

April 14, 2026 | Springfield, IL

REGISTER →

CONFERENCE — Local Legacy - A One Day Conference

hosted by the Alabama Center for Employee Ownership (ALCEO)

April 17, 2026 | Birmingham, AL

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 →

CONFERENCE — Local Legacy - A One Day Conference

hosted by the Alabama Center for Employee Ownership (ALCEO)

October 01, 2026 | Ankeny, IA

REGISTER →

EO IN THE NEWS

Common Trust Facilitates Cypress Valley Meats EOT — helping them to strengthen culture, improve stability, and share success across its workforce.
READ MORE →

HB Global CEO shares how their growth translates to employee owners, showcasing some eye-opening ESOP balances among their workforce.
READ MORE →

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

Springfield, IL - SB2982 has been assigned to Appropriations

The Illinois bill would appropriate $700,000 from the Illinois General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the Illinois Center for Employee Ownership. The money would be used to expand education, outreach, and technical assistance related to employee ownership transitions and help small businesses evaluate succession through employee ownership.
READ HERE →

EO RESOURCE

💻 WEBINAR - The Future of Business - How Shared Ownership Drives Innovation and Performance
Presented by RIT's Saunders College of Business and moderated by EOX's Steve Storkan, this webinar examines how employee ownership is reshaping leadership, culture, and performance in 4 amazing companies based in the Rochester, NY area.
WATCH HERE →

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!

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