ST. CLOUD, Minn., Oct. 6, 2025—October is Employee Ownership Month, and the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) is marking the occasion by rolling out new tools and partnerships to strengthen businesses across greater Minnesota.

Through a redesigned website, an expanded partnership with the North Central Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Central Lakes College, a relaunch of its monthly webinar series, and a growing podcast platform, MNCEO is broadening access to free resources that help business owners plan for succession and employees prepare for ownership.

With thousands of Minnesota businesses owned by baby boomers nearing retirement, the stakes are high. Employee ownership — including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Worker-Owned Cooperatives, and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) — offers a path for keeping companies locally owned while securing retirement for sellers and building wealth for employees.

“Employee ownership is more than a transition option — it’s a way to keep jobs, businesses, and communities strong,” said Kirsten Kennedy, executive director of MNCEO. “That’s why we’re making sure resources are accessible to business owners in every corner of the state, not just the Twin Cities.”

New Website and Tools

This summer, MNCEO unveiled a redesigned website, www.mnceo.org, featuring easy-to-understand guides, success stories, and connections to advisors. The site also houses on-demand learning materials for rural business owners who may not have ready access to succession planning experts.

“Our new site makes it simple for Minnesotans to learn how employee ownership works and how it can benefit their communities,” Kennedy said.

Partnership for Rural Businesses

In central Minnesota, MNCEO has joined forces with the North Central SBDC at Central Lakes College to provide confidential, no-cost services, including business valuation, legacy planning, and ownership transition education. The partnership underscores MNCEO’s commitment to serving rural entrepreneurs, many of whom are seeking ways to keep their businesses locally owned after retirement.

Webinars and Podcast Series

MNCEO is also relaunching its free monthly webinar series this fall, with sessions covering valuation basics, ownership models, and practical steps for succession planning. Each webinar will feature Minnesota business owners, employee-owners, and experts, with recordings available online for on-demand access.

To complement the webinars, MNCEO has expanded its podcast series, “The Worker Co Podcast.” The show highlights employee-ownership success stories from across Minnesota, offering listeners insights directly from employee-owners, advisors, and community leaders. The expanded lineup will include more episodes focused on rural businesses and sector-specific challenges such as manufacturing and professional services.

“The webinars and podcasts give business owners two easy ways to learn — whether they prefer a live discussion with experts or listening on the go,” Kennedy said. “Both platforms help us reach Minnesotans wherever they are.”

A Statewide Mission

Employee ownership is increasingly recognized nationwide as a way to reduce wealth inequality and preserve community-based businesses. In Minnesota, MNCEO provides free, unbiased resources to business owners, advisors, and employees exploring this model.

“This is about protecting what Minnesotans have worked so hard to build,” Kennedy said. “From a manufacturer in St. Cloud or Pine City to a family-owned business in Cambridge or North Branch, employee ownership keeps companies thriving and communities stable for the long term.”

About the Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership

The Minnesota Center for Employee Ownership (MNCEO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free and unbiased information and resources to business owners and their advisors on the benefits of employee ownership throughout Minnesota. Established in 2020, MNCEO is part of a national network of state centers for employee ownership created by the Employee Ownership Expansion Network, which is committed to closing the wealth gap for all employees. For more information, visit www.mnceo.org.

Media Contact:

Lee Hayes

651-261-4356

[email protected]