Business Development
Building Sustainable Futures in Manufacturing for Current and Future Workers
We do business differently. Choosing to work with us means investing in Western North Carolina's economy and supporting a stronger local workforce. Over the past seven years, we've created quality green jobs across our five community-owned enterprises, each focused on economic growth and ensuring employment stability.
Good Books
Good Books is a cooperative led by minority women, offering bilingual bookkeeping, notary, and translation services to a diverse array of businesses.
We are committed to fostering the development of new enterprises in the region and providing underserved communities with the financial literacy necessary to create sustainable, local wealth.
Weaving an economic ecosystem that connects innovators to funding, cooperative strategies, and shared success.
Inspired by successful models like those in Mondragon, Spain, and Emilia Romagna, Italy, we're establishing a supportive ecosystem for businesses in Western North Carolina.
We offer loans and support to start community-owned businesses in manufacturing. Through our Capital for the Commons, loan fund and Land for the Commons, we provide startups with initial loans. These are recycled back into the fund as they're repaid, helping to launch new cooperatives and sustain community growth.
Capital for the Commons
We're committed to empowering small, democratically-run, and minority-owned businesses with the support they need to grow.
Our Capital for the Commons loan fund provides essential financial resources for expansion. At The Industrial Commons, we understand the challenges of accessing capital, particularly for rural and minority entrepreneurs. By investing in their innovative ideas, we aim to strengthen our community, ensuring every entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed.
Ready to apply?
Fill out the pre-application below and a member of our team will reach out to you! For general questions, please contact sharley@theindustrialcommons.org
Building Equitable Workplaces
Not all businesses are built the same. Whether you are an employee or an employer, we can help your workplace become more democratic and more productive.
We can improve business performance and contribute to a fairer economy by empowering democratic participation, knowledge exchange, and collective problem-solving. Our strategies have already made a significant difference in 62 businesses, cultivating better environments for employers and employees.
Accelerating Common Economies: Driving Progress in Place-Based Economic Development and Wealth Creation
A week-long program focused on accelerating the growth of common economies invites participant groups of three from various communities to engage with our expert team and distinguished faculty from across the country. Covering economic and infrastructure development, community networking, and business strategies, it provides tools, resources, and frameworks to enhance initiatives and community impact. This educational opportunity is designed to offer practical insights and collaborative learning experiences.
If you are interested in the next ACE event, please join the list below or email Aaron@theindustrialcommons.org.
Transitioning to Employee Ownership
In 2023 we helped Equinox Woodworks transition to employee ownership. Read more here.
We provide support to established businesses that are interested in exploring or completing a conversion to employee ownership.
If you're a retiring business owner seeking support for succession planning, or if you wish to deepen ownership roots within your team, we're here to help. Our approach is designed to make the exploration and conversion process as smooth and informed as possible, ensuring your business and its people succeed together.
Great Game Of Business (GGOB)
Give your team the financial understanding they need to help your organization succeed. The GGOB training makes business finances clear and accessible, allowing team members to contribute to your shared success. By enhancing their financial knowledge, you're investing in a brighter future for your organization.
Workplace Programs
Supervisor Training
Discover a coaching approach to supervision training that empowers managers and supervisors to lead their teams with confidence. We focus on essential skills like active listening, self-awareness, effective communication, and teamwork in problem-solving. Our training ensures leaders are not just in charge but truly supportive and impactful examples for their teams.
By shaping workplaces that inspire people to stay and do their best, we support businesses in keeping their teams strong.
Our method boosts job satisfaction and loyalty, which in turn enhances productivity and strengthens teams. These improvements keep employees happy and become a draw to top talent, laying the groundwork for continued success
Worker Committees
Boosting employee engagement is key to revitalizing your workforce and keeping talent. We enhance workplace connections by setting up committees of front-line employees and middle managers. These committees facilitate an exchange of ideas, help identify challenges, and develop solutions straight from those who understand your workplace the best.
Land for the Commons
We’re creating affordable spaces and ownership opportunities for local workers and families.
From developing low-cost housing options to transforming an old factory site into a shared space for social enterprises, our goal is always to grow wealth inside of our communities.
The Industrial Commons’ Innovation Campus Phase 1
The Innovation Campus
Bringing life back to a 27.87-acre brownfield.
This transformative project is set to repurpose a once-forgotten factory site into a collaborative hub for small to mid-sized textile and furniture businesses. The initial development phase features two key structures: a versatile manufacturing center, equipped for both skilled training and incubation, and a central business support building designed to enhance our collaboration with partners across the region.
Draft site plan for our Housing Cooperative near the Innovation Campus created by Nelson, Byrd, Woltz, Landscape Architects, NVERSE Architects, and Baumgartner Urban Systems Strategy
Housing Cooperative
Helping workers build long-term wealth and financial stability through housing is a central part of our mission.
In line with our dedication to enhancing financial stability, we've recently acquired 10.29 acres in downtown Morganton to develop a unique cooperative housing initiative. This venture will employ a mixed ownership model, integrating the principles of a Limited Equity Cooperative with a Land Trust, aimed at ensuring affordability and enable modest wealth accumulation for our community members over time.