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Supporters urge lawmakers to keep Washington's employee‑ownership program intact
Summary
Hundreds of stakeholders, cooperatives and technical advocates testified against House Bill 2047, which would eliminate the state's recently created Employee Ownership Program; witnesses said the program expands business succession options and supports local economies.
The House Appropriations Committee heard more than a dozen in‑person and remote witnesses who urged opposition to House Bill 2047, a proposal to eliminate the Washington Employee Ownership Program and associated commission and account. The program was created in 2023 to provide technical assistance, a referral service and — subject to federal funds — a non‑appropriated revolving loan program to help businesses transition to employee ownership models.
Jessica Van Horn, staff to the committee, summarized the program’s activities and the bill’s effect: the substitute would…
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