The Employee Ownership Project (EOP) is an independent, non-profit organization formed in 1987, whose main objective is to improve the lives of low and moderate income residents of the Capital Region through the creation and growth of micro-enterprises and small business ventures. The EOP supports and promotes the creation and development of enterprises which feature democratic ownership and decision making structures. EOP has reached out to and engaged Albany's Arbor Hill and West Hill neighborhoods in order to establish the organization's presence in working and low income communities. EOP has offered a series of workshops and seminars on starting businesses and enterprises as well as reaching out to adolescents.

The EOP has been influential in starting dozens of small businesses, which have created or maintained over one hundred jobs for low and moderate income individuals. The EOP helped start up businesses such as a convenience store, a sewing factory, a dry cleaning business, a contracting firm, and an asbestos and hazardous waste removal business. The EOP serves people who might not otherwise be considered entrepreneurs and tries to match people with complimentary skills necessary in effort to create successful businesses.