You have an idea for a business.  Now what? You could start a business — but could you start a viable business? Find the answer with FastTRAC®.

The Western Dairyland Business Center and the Western Wisconsin Women's Business Center invites all entrepreneurs to attend the FastTRAC® Entrepreneurial Peer Mentor Group. This 10-week course will be offered on Thursday nights at the Strum Public Library in Strum, WI, from 5:00-8:00 PM, beginning on June 6th, 2019.  The cost for the full course is $99.00.  Scholarships are available for income-eligible individuals.

Small business owners, entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners are invited to attend Business Plan Basics on Tuesday, June 18th, 2019. The class will run from 5:30-8:30 pm. at Western Dairyland Business Center, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire. Class participants will learn how to create an effective and engaging business plan that can be presented to lenders and used to guide the launch and growth of a new business. Tuition is $29. Class materials are included. Scholarships are available for income-eligible individuals.

The Western Wisconsin SCORE program invites you to join them for a Google Workshop.  In this workshop, you will learn about Getting Your Business Online and Using Data to Drive Growth.  The workshop will be held on June 27th, 2019, from 6:00-8:00 PM at UWEC, 1704 Centennial Hall, Eau Claire, WI.

The Western Dairyland Women's Business Center recently received $6000 from the Women's Giving Circle to launch a peer mentorship program for women seeking to grow their existing businesses. According to the 2018 State of Women Owned Businesses Report, 4 out of every 10 businesses (40%) in the United States are now women-owned. However, these businesses only employ 8% of the total private sector workforce and contribute just 4.3% of total revenues. In response to this discrepancy, The Western Dairyland Women's Business Center is launching a new program called Women's CEO Roundtables.

The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center hosted its sixth annual Women’s Business Celebration on Wednesday, October 24^th, 2018 at The Florian Gardens in Eau Claire. A highlight of the celebration was the announcement of the 2018 recipients of the New Business of the Year Award and the Business Woman of the Year Award.

The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center is pleased to announce that Tracey Smiskey has been chosen as the Women’s Business Center Advisory Board Chair.

Tammy Simon has joined the Western Dairyland Business Center as a Business Development Specialist who will provide services to individuals interested in starting, expanding, and improving small businesses in the Eau Claire area. Services include technical assistance and training in all aspects of business including business plan development, feasibility studies, marketing, management, and securing financing.