Supporting women-owned businesses-one at a time
Our Women's Business Center (WBC) specializes in providing
services to assist women entrepreneurs. Special efforts are
made to assist economically and socially disadvantaged women.
We continue our commitment to provide intensive group and
one-on-one business training and technical assistance that
will assist women to grow their business ideas and acquire
or improve their business management skills.
When you become a WBC client, we can provide assistance
in:
Business Plan Preparation
This includes group training and one-on-one technical assistance
to assess the potential of your market. Our staff will assist
in the completion of a marketing plan, three year financial
projections, and a full business plan. As a WBC Client, you
will have access to our full-service computer lab to research
your market(s) and our computerized business plan format to
produce, modify, and update your plan.
Training
We offer training in accounting, understanding your financial
statements, budgeting, cash flow, marketing, internet use,
internet market research, e-commerce, web page development,
and more.
Loan Application Assistance
We provide assistance for WBC clients who have completed
high quality feasible business plans. Assistance includes
access to SBA Loan Pre-Qualification Services, access to our
network of over 15 area SBA lenders, plus regional, state,
and federal loan funds. We provide direct loans to businesses
owned by refugees.
Government Procurement Workshops
These one-day seminars are for women, minority, disabled,
or disadvantaged business owners interested in learning how
to sell their products or services to state or federal government
agencies.
Supporting Women's Access to Training (SWAT)
WBC Clients seeking help to improve their business skills
and operation may apply for SWAT assistance (limited enrollment).
SWAT assistance is customized and provided at your place of
business to reduce the barriers of time and travel while increasing
your access to business training and information. It involves
regular meetings with Business Development Specialists to
assist you in identifying business issues, creating a technical
assistance plan to address the issues, and providing technical
assistance options and/or business activities that will help
you grow your business. Team members may include representatives
from SCORE, SBDC, area Community Action Business Development
Projects, supporting lenders, and other business resource
partners.
Access to technology is provided through our Computer Lending
Library. The WBC loan computers, as available, to qualifying
clients who have computer skills but cannot afford a computer.
Access to capital for business, loans are provided through
our Loan Guarantee Fund. The fund and its network of supporting
lenders can provide a loan guarantee for qualifying clients
who may be otherwise unable to secure a loan.
Western Dairyland's Women's Business Center award number
is SBAHQ-99-W-005 and is partially funded by the US Small
Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership
(OWBO). The OWBO is established to help women become full
partners in economic development through small business ownership.
SBA's cooperation does not constitute or imply its endorsement
of any opinions, products and/or services. Reasonable arrangements
for persons with disabilities will be made if assistance is
requested at least two weeks in advance. All SBA programs
are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
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