Preserving Community Wealth: Forum on Financing Employee Ownership


August 01, 2019

Thursday, September 19, 2019 | 10am-3pm

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston  |  New England Room

Register here: http://bit.ly/MCBCPreserveCommunityWealth

 

Description

Across New England, established small businesses- most of them healthy and viable – are closing (rather than being sold) as owners age and retire. These established businesses drive local prosperity and ensure vibrant local economies.

To retain quality jobs and anchor successful businesses in communities, more state and federal programs are supporting the conversion of legacy businesses to employee ownership.

In response, MCBC is hosting this important convening to provide practical advice on resources available to bank and non-profit lenders as well as how to source and underwrite these transactions.

Who should attend

This event invites community development corporations, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), credit unions, and regional banks from across New England to explore the economic potential of employee ownership.

 

Agenda

Sessions will highlight the current ecosystem of state and federal resources, feature owners who have sold their business to their employees, and explain the mechanics of financing transactions.

10-10:15am       Registration

10:15-10:30am  Welcome and Introduction 

10:30- 11:00am  U.S. Small Business Administration on the Main Street Employee Ownership Act

Ili Spahiu, Assistant District Director for Lender Relations, Massachusetts District Office

11:00-12:00pm   State-level Initiatives to support cooperative and employee owned businesses

Moderator Joshua Daly, RI Small Business Development Center Director, Southern Region

12:00-1:00pm   Lunch & Keynote Speaker 

1:15-2:00pm     Pipeline Development & Regional Resources

Moderator: Jennie Msall, ICA Group

2:00-2:45pm    Underwriting & Risk Factors

A case study of $3.7 million in financing from two CDFIs & a national bank to preserve a grocery store, hardware store and pharmacy located in a rural coastal town in Maine

Moderator: Maggie Cohn, Cooperative Fund of New England