Bill > HB1751

This bill establishes the Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Community and Economic Development to promote and support employee-owned businesses in Pennsylvania. The office will be led by an Employee Ownership Advocate appointed by the Governor and will provide technical and financial assistance to help businesses convert to employee ownership models. Key provisions include creating an Employee Ownership Advisory Board to research and recommend policies, establishing a Main Street Employee Ownership Grant Program for businesses with fewer than 200 employees, and offering grants and loans to support feasibility studies, technical assistance, and business conversions to employee-owned enterprises. The office will be responsible for educating businesses and communities about employee ownership, gathering statistics on employee-owned enterprises, and submitting annual reports to the legislature detailing the program's impacts, including the number of jobs created or retained. The bill aims to encourage the development of worker cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans by providing resources and support to businesses interested in transitioning to more collaborative ownership structures, with the ultimate goal of promoting economic development and job preservation in Pennsylvania.

Business and Industry

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1751