The Green Business Opportunity in Clean Energy

      Are you interested in helping Massachusetts reach its 2050 climate goals by reducing the energy used in buildings?

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REGISTER HERE FOR THE FIRST WORKSHOP March 22nd!

The clean energy and climate-critical industries represent one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing sectors within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As local governments, businesses, and communities race to meet sustainability goals, there is an unprecedented demand for skilled professionals and innovative solutions in energy-efficient construction and services. The PowerUP! Cooperative Business Incubator positions you to seize this opportunity by creating or transforming businesses that help the Commonwealth of Massachusetts reach its climate goals by 2050.

The PowerUP! Cooperative Business Incubator is an initiative by the Boston Center for Community Ownership (BCCO), launched with the support of a Minority and Women-Owned Business Support Grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The program is designed to support women and BIPOC communities in creating worker-owned cooperatives in climate-critical construction and energy trades from disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, recognizing the cooperative model as an essential solution to global challenges and a catalyst for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

This program serves both new co-ops and existing businesses interested in converting to cooperative ownership. We are excited about this opportunity to foster worker co-ops in these sectors, as they offer a more accessible path to ownership, and help build more resilient, sustainable businesses.

Below is everything you need to know about how the PowerUP! Cooperative Business Incubator can help you and your business thrive.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the PowerUP! Cooperative Business Incubator, teams must meet the following requirements:

• Majority Ownership: Teams must consist of at least 51% women or BIPOC owners by the incorporation date of the cooperative business.
• Professional Expertise: At least one licensed (or soon-to-be licensed) professional in a relevant trade.
• Team Composition: Teams must have at least three members by the incorporation date of the cooperative business.
• Integrity, Dedication, Commitment: Participants must demonstrate a willingness to attend workshops, complete training, and actively engage with program resources.
• Business Types:  Entrepreneurs must be interested in launching their new business as or converting their existing business into a cooperative in the following industries
  
  • Construction fields such as remodeling, building, and general contracting.
  • Energy services like HVAC installation, energy audits, and insulation contracting.
  • Specialized trades including electricians, plumbers, and other critical sectors impacting energy use in residential and commercial buildings

Program Milestones

PHASE 1 “Plug-In to Co-ops” an introductory workshop 

• Gain foundational knowledge about cooperatives, their benefits, and opportunities within clean energy sector.
• Flexible participation options: attend workshops in person or online.
• First Workshop Date (Just Announced!)  March 22, 2025 at Boston Building Resources, Roxbury MA – REGISTER HERE

PHASE 2 “Ownership EmpowerED” workshop series

• Bring your team for a deeper dive into cooperative ownership and determine if this is a business structure that works for you:
  
  • Effective decision-making and governance within a cooperative business
  • How co-ownership and profit distribution is handled in a co-op
  • Best practices for cooperative management, including strategies for business sustainability, lasting community impact, and co-op success
  • What to expect: the steps to starting a co-op or converting a business to co-op ownership
• Timeline: April – June 2025

Phase 3 “PowerUP!” a Cooperative Business Incubator 

• Startup Incubator: For entrepreneurs launching new cooperative businesses. Attend two in-person retreats plus weekly meetings with co-op business advisors to develop legal documents and a business plan for your co-op.
• Conversion Program: For existing businesses transitioning to cooperative ownership.  Access expert assistance in organizing an orderly and mutually beneficial hand off of a successful business to a new generation of employee owners.
• Start Date: June 2025, program duration includes a 6 month intensive, plus 12 months of follow up support.

Program Benefits

• Comprehensive Training: Learn essential skills for running your cooperative’s governance and build your expertise in small business operations or financials.
• Investments and Tech Allowances: Financial support for participating teams and your cooperative business
• Subsidized Professional Services: Access legal, financial, and technical assistance at reduced or no cost.
• Wraparound Support Services: Referrals to personal assistance providers as needed throughout your cooperative journey when life just happens.
• Marketing Your Cooperative Advantage: Gain a deeper understanding about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ 2050 climate goals, gain insight that will help your cooperative business stays ahead of industry trends, and take advantage of exclusive networking opportunities with Industry Leaders and Influencers.

WHY Should I Join the “PowerUP!” Cooperative Business Incubator?

• Build a Sustainable Future: Help with addressing climate-critical challenges through your cooperative business model.
• Receive Tailored and Customized Support: Access to expert training, guidance, personalized technical assistance, and team-focused learning, with funding to support your journey and help your business succeed.
• Join a High Demand, Growing Market: With billions of dollars invested into renewable energy, green building, and energy efficiency, the clean energy sector is a goldmine for entrepreneurs and cooperatives alike.
• Benefit from the Regulatory Advocacy: Increased state level regulations around energy efficiency and emissions standards are driving demand for specialized services in HVAC, energy audits, insulation, and similar.
• Create Economic Resilience: Green jobs and worker-owned cooperatives offer long-term stability.
• Tap Into a Booming Industry: Be part of the solution to climate change while building a profitable, adaptable, and future-focused business.
• Empowered by Shared Ownership: Cooperative businesses offer an accessible path to ownership, fostering shared responsibility and resilience.
• Enhance Your Marketability: Co-ops in clean energy and from disadvantaged or vulnerable communities are uniquely positioned to secure contracts, grants, and recognition in sustainability-focused initiatives.

HOW Do I Join the “PowerUP!” Cooperative Business Incubator?

If you’re ready to take your cooperative to the next level or transition your business into a worker-owned cooperative, the PowerUP! Cooperative Business Incubator is here to help. Don’t miss this opportunity to create a sustainable, equitable business that makes a meaningful impact on the environment and your community.

1. PowerUP! the newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter below to stay informed about resources, important dates, and invitations.
2. “Plug-In to Co-ops” an introductory workshop: Register now to attend or access recordings online.
3. Applications: Apply to join the program and “PowerUP!” your cooperative business to build a brighter, more sustainable future for all to enjoy. Applications will go live in April 2025, and will be announced on the PowerUP! newsletter.