Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO)
Welcome
The Iowa Center for Employee Ownership (IA-CEO) is the state's premier resource hub dedicated to promoting and expanding employee ownership across Iowa. As a central point of connection, we provide education, resources, and support for businesses interested in exploring employee ownership models, particularly Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Worker Cooperatives. Our goal is to empower Iowa businesses, employees, and communities with the knowledge and tools to transition to, or strengthen, broad-based employee ownership.
IA-CEO is proud to be the 21st state center in the Employee Ownership Expansion Network (EOX), a national initiative committed to increasing awareness of the benefits of employee ownership. We operate under the leadership of the University of Northern Iowa's (UNI) Advance Iowa, a program with a strong history of supporting Iowa businesses through strategic growth and succession planning.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to enhancing economic prosperity throughout the state. We believe that by expanding employee ownership, we can help secure the future of Iowa businesses, preserve jobs, and create wealth-building opportunities for workers, all while keeping local economies vibrant and competitive. Through educational programming, expert guidance, and a network of industry professionals, IA-CEO is here to support businesses every step of the way as they explore and implement employee ownership solutions.
"Employee ownership is not just a financial strategy; it's a philosophy of shared responsibility and shared reward."
— Joseph Blasi, Author of The Citizen's Share
IA-CEO receives Ford Foundation Grant
Employee Ownership - BY THE NUMBERS
According to a 2023 report published by the NCEO, the average employee at a 100% ESOP-owned S corporation stays with the company for 7.1 years.