Every dollar invested in WEV’s programs generates a return of $12 to the local economy in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Every year, WEV conducts follow up interviews with our clients to determine program impact and client outcomes. WEV conducts these surveys with a random sample of 200 clients 12–18 months post-service. The data below presents some of the findings from WEV’s 2010 client surveys.

Social Return on Investment

WEV’s Self-Employment Training program, Business Plan Intensive program, and Small Business Loan Fund generate a return of $12 to the local economy for every $1 invested (increased income for business owners and employees, increased tax revenue, and increased sales and spending by local businesses).

Business Performance

• 90% of clients who were in business at intake were still in business
• 68% of all WEV clients (those who did not have a business at intake and those who did) were in business
• Existing business sales increased 98%, from $36,142 to $71,684 (clients with businesses at both intake and survey)
• Clients reported an increase in owner’s draw of 87%, from $5,267 to $9,845 (this calculation includes clients who were pre-business at enrollment, so had a “0” draw at intake because they had not yet opened a business)
• The increase in owner’s draw for clients who were operating a business at both intake and at the survey was 40%

Household Income

• Average household income increased by 23%, from $36,183 to $44,333
• 74% of WEV clients who were in poverty at intake had moved out of poverty by the time of the survey

Community Economic Impact

In 2010, WEV client businesses:

• Created and retained an estimated 362 jobs in 2010 (businesses owner + employees)
• Employed an additional 161 people locally, apart from the business owner.
• Created a total of 96 new jobs in the community
• Generated an estimated $1,061,883 in tax revenues for the state and local economy

Self Efficacy

• 71% of clients surveyed agreed to the statement: “Being a member of WEV has helped me to set personal goals for myself.”
• The majority of clients surveyed agreed to the statement:  “I feel more in control of my financial future since receiving services from WEV.”

Loan Fund Clients

• 93% of clients were in business in 2010
• Average business sales 2010: $132,651
• For every loan, 1 new job was created in the community; 2.7 jobs were created or retained
• Generated an estimated $440,415 in tax revenues for the state and local economy in 2010