SAN PABLO, CA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / June 18, 2025 / “Employee ownership is a powerful strategy for building community wealth, preserving local businesses, and creating economic resilience from the ground up. When workers have a stake in the success of their company, they don’t just earn a paycheck; they build equity,” said Kieron Slaughter, Economic Development & Housing Manager for the City of San Pablo.

San Pablo, CA – The City of San Pablo is proud to announce the addition of “Co-op” as a recognized business type on its business license application. This milestone reflects the City’s commitment to supporting employee ownership and democratic models of business, aligning with the 2025-27 City Council Priority Workplan goals focused on economic development and fiscal diversity.

By formally recognizing cooperative enterprises, San Pablo takes a meaningful step toward fostering a more inclusive and resilient local economy. This update empowers entrepreneurs and workers to explore alternative business models that prioritize shared ownership, equity, and community wealth-building.

“This is the first step in a coordinated effort to raise awareness about the benefits of employee-owned cooperatives,” said Kieron Slaughter, Economic Development & Housing Manager for the City of San Pablo. “Employee ownership is a powerful strategy for building community wealth, preserving local businesses, and creating economic resilience from the ground up. When workers have a stake in the success of their company, they don’t just earn a paycheck; they build equity. We’re proud to partner with organizations like Project Equity, the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation, and the East Bay Economic Development Alliance to champion this model and expand the tools available for businesses ready to transition to employee ownership.”

"San Pablo EDC applauds this important step forward in building a more inclusive and therefore more equitable local economy. Cooperative business models create pathways to economic security for workers and align with our mission to empower communities through meaningful inclusion in the local economy," added Leslay Choy, Executive Director, San Pablo Economic Development Corporation.

“Cities like San Pablo are showing the kind of leadership that is essential for scaling employee ownership,” said Evan Edwards, CEO of Project Equity. “By taking forward-thinking steps like this, cities can help unlock the transformative power of employee ownership to retain legacy businesses, create quality jobs, and strengthen local economies.”

“Small business is the backbone of San Pablo’s business community. Our businesses have an opportunity to evolve and grow and re-distribute their profits and benefits among their business members through this co-op model, which ignites job investment and stimulates our local economy,” stated San Pablo Mayor Cruz.

San Pablo’s new initiative was made possible through the collaboration between the City’s Community Development Department and the Economic Development & Housing Division, reflecting the City’s continued focus on innovative, cross-departmental solutions that create long-term community benefits for San Pablo’s businesses and residents.