CDS sees worker ownership as an important but under-utilized tool to retain businesses in communities during a time of major business transitions. Even before the Covid-19 crisis, small businesses were facing a “silver tsunami” of owners approaching retirement without succession…

Our team supported the planning and execution of a new 8-member co-op conversion just a couple of weeks ago in a rural Wisconsin community! UWCC provided governance support, CDS provided business planning and loan preparation support, and after due diligence, Shared…

Since 2018, CDS has been creating an eco-system to support the conversion of small businesses to employee ownership via worker-owned cooperatives. Our partners include Shared Capital Cooperative as our finance and lending partner; our community education partners include the University…