The Sexy Pizza team opened their first location in Capitol Hill in 2008 with a company culture rooted in activism and community engagement. 13 years later, Sexy Pizza has expanded to four locations across Denver and a growing list of employee benefits, making them a highly competitive employer.

DENVER - The Colorado Employee Ownership Office (EOO) at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) launched the first round of the Employee Ownership Trial Grant in January. The grant, open to Colorado-headquartered small businesses, reimbursed professional technical services required for businesses to transition to an employee-ownership model.

Applewood Seed Company is an international leader in high quality bulk wildflower and garden flower seeds selling to commercial companies and gardening/landscape professionals.

Founded in 1965 in Golden, Colorado, by Gene Milstein, he began collecting and selling Colorado wildflower seeds as a hobby from his basement. Applewood Seed has since become one of the largest producers of open pollinated flower seeds in the country.

DENVER - The Colorado Employee Ownership Office (EOO) in collaboration with the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) has developed a new documentary following the employee ownership journeys of five Colorado companies.

Own It: A Colorado Story follows five Colorado-based companies that have transformed the fabric of their communities – and the lives of their workers – by becoming employee-owned.

The Community Language Cooperative was founded in May 2014 and began immediately as a cooperative (co-op). It was created from three LLCs that joined together to form the co-op. 

At the heart of Community Language Cooperative is an understanding of the power that language holds. By providing interpreters and translators to communicate in other languages, they can bridge any language barriers to opportunities and resources. 

StoneAge, based in Durango, CO, is a manufacturer of high pressure water blasted tools that serves worldwide markets. Founded in 1979 by two Colorado natives, John Wolgamott and Jerry Zink, StoneAge was built on a foundation of flexibility and adaptability that has kept their company resilient for decades. 

The Colorado Employee Ownership Office will soon open another round of grant funding of $3,000 to businesses converting to an employee ownership business structure. This may seem surprising, but the movement of businesses converting to employee ownership is increasing every day in Colorado. Employee ownership isn’t just about numbers and contracts, it’s about choosing a business model that brings out the best in its employees and leadership.

Palmer Flowers, a business staple in Fort Collins and beyond, was founded in 1976 by Spiro Palmer. In its more than four decade history, the company has grown to be a leader in the state not only in floral design and decor, but also in employee ownership. 

At the heart of the business were the employees and Palmer believed in taking care of these good people. He had the idea, when it came time to consider succession planning, to bring those same loyal employees into the ownership of the company. 

The Main Street Phoenix Project is a unique cooperative started in March 2020 aimed at rebuilding a more sustainable economy post-COVID. The project was founded by Employee Ownership Commissioner and employee ownership advocate Jason Wiener. 

DENVER -- Governor Polis will join a virtual Opportunity Zone investment event on Thursday, January 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to explore how Opportunity Zones can be investment catalysts for Colorado’s early childhood education needs.