In 2019, nine employees in rural northeastern Wisconsin were facing the loss of their jobs in a matter of months due to the sale of the wholesale custom wood cutting business.
During that time, the interest among worker cooperatives was beginning to grow. Despite being new to the emerging field of cooperative conversions, CDS, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC), stepped in to assess whether these employees’ division could be converted to a worker co-op. The answer was a courageous “yes,” and official conversion occurred in spring of 2020. Snow River has continued to receive technical assistance from CDS and UWCC since that time.
Over the last five years, the now six member-owners have experienced challenges but also successes, not the least of which is achieving well above average wages and substantial benefits in the poorest county in the state. As a result of their conversion, Snow River Custom Wood Products continues to be a pillar of business in their small, rural community. That’s something to celebrate!
Following their Annual Meeting, Snow River member-owners celebrate their 5th anniversary.
Is it cake or is it one of their crafted wood pieces?