Rollup Creates Largest Worker Cooperative in Maine

Employees of three rural businesses in Maine worked with the Cooperative Development Institute and the Independent Retailers Shared Services Cooperative to form a new business, the Island Employee Cooperative (IEC), which bought the three businesses from their original owners. This transaction marks one of the largest conversions of a conventionally owned business to a worker cooperative. IEC president Alan White said, "Many of us have worked in these stores for decades and never imagined this possibility. We know we have a lot to learn and a lot of work to do to be successful, but success means we will really achieve the American dream—economic security and building wealth through ownership, both for our families and our community."