Women’s Economic Ventures’ 2009 Spring Self-Employment Training classes start early February; orientations offered throughout January
Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, January 1, 2009 – With the current economic downturn, Women’s Economic Ventures remains a more vital force than ever in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. With cutbacks in jobs and work hours, more people are considering the options for starting their own business and Women’s Economic Ventures provides the necessary training through its intensive Self-Employment Training Program.
WEV’s comprehensive 14 week, 56-hour Self-Employment Training (SET) program is targeted to women (also serves men), and provides guidance on how to start, operate or expand a business. Participants leave the course with a complete business plan including a marketing plan, a cash flow projection, an operations plan, and a core network to help sustain the business. The program is offered in both English and Spanish, and provides week-by-week training in the most important aspects of organizing, financing, marketing and managing a small business. Topics include finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan. After the 14 week course, WEV SET graduates emerge with the most important tools and resources they need to start a new business or grow their current business. There are now more than 1,000 businesses throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties owned and operated by graduates of WEV’s Self-Employment Training program or recipients of small business loans through WEV.
The Self-Employment Training course is offered twice each year, with classes starting in February and in September. The class runs for 14 consecutive weeks, one night a week for three hours, and includes two full Saturdays. Classes are taught in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Ventura. Participants considering the course are required to attend a free one-hour orientation workshop. These orientations offer a complete overview of all of WEV’s programs and services, as well as what will be accomplished through the course (SEE BELOW FOR UPCOMING ORIENTATION DATES). English and Spanish language orientations are held in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Ventura.
The Self-Employment Training course is part of the continuum of programs WEV offers to help women start-up, launch, grow, and sustain their own business, including: business counseling, advanced business training, professional networking events, and small business start-up and expansion loans. WEV is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women across the globe. For more information please call 805-965-6073 or visit www.wevonline.org.