INCEO has contacted the Governor’s office and requested a proclamation be issued in support of Employee Ownership Month.  Governor Holcomb issued a similar proclamation’s in 2018 and 2019, and we assume he will be supportive in 2020.

We have also reached out to the Indianapolis Mayor’s office for a city proclamation in support of employee ownership, but were not able to submit our request via the website at this time.  Mayor Hogsett issued a similar proclamation in support of employee ownership in 2019, and we assume he will be supportive in 2020.

In 2019 we were able to obtain support from the Governor, and the Mayor’s of Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Carmel.  In 2020 it would be great to get mayoral proclamations in support of employee ownership from these as well as other cities in the state.  However, in most cases to submit a mayoral proclamation requires residency within the city and this is where I need YOUR help!  Below are the standard WHEREAS clauses (or you can check out any of the above links for the 2019 proclamations).  I can customize the data for ESOPs in a specific city or region or you can simply remove this clause when submitting the proclamation request to your mayor.

Standard Clauses:

WHEREAS, every October in communities across the nation, Employee Ownership Month is celebrated as a time to educate business owners and their employees about the advantages of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs); and

WHEREAS, employee ownership is a business model in which employees of a company are beneficial owners of their company stock.  ESOPs are beneficial because they boost a company’s performance while also providing important retirement security for employees.  With an ESOP employees have an active voice in management.  There are approximately 39 ESOP’s in Indianapolis, which employee approximately 82 thousand working residents who have accumulated over Hoosiers $990 Million of retirement assets; and

WHEREAS, studies suggest that ESOP businesses have greater longevity in the marketplace and reduce gender and wealth inequality. These companies lay off fewer workers during downturns, and are overall more profitable and productive. Therefore, workers can share in our nation’s financial growth and prosperity because ESOPs help citizens to accumulate wealth; and

WHEREAS, the City of Indianapolis recognizes the importance of employee ownership during the month of October.  We are thankful for the support offered to citizens through programs at the Indiana Center for Employee Ownership;

Background info (if required)

Employee Ownership Month was founded by The ESOP Association and has been celebrated for nearly 30 years each October. Employee Ownership Month is an opportunity for ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) companies across the nation to educate employee owners, the public, and government officials about the undeniable benefits of employee ownership for employees, their companies, the communities they are a part of, and the nation.

If you are going requesting a proclamation – please let me know! I would love to share these proclamations of support  on the INCEO website and provide links for sharing.

Thanks ! Rick