Business Development
Since 2001, FWCED has been committed to promoting
entrepreneurship and supporting small business activity. The
Neighborhood Employment Economic Resource Center (NEERC) works in
partnership with community institutions and organizations to
develop technical and financial assistance specific to the west
Fresno business community.
The Center provides the following services:
AcceleratorOnline®- Through a
partnership with the University Business Center of California State
University at Fresno, the NEERC offers an business plan development
course. The participants go through a step-by-step process for
writing a business plan. During the ten weeks, course materials
cover the following topics:
- Organizational Management
- Business Operations
- Financial Statements and Analysis
- Competitive/Market Analysis
- Branding & Advertising
Theses plans can be used to either start a new business or expand
on an existing company.
Entrepreneurial Capacity 101
The NEERC provides workshops and resources on subjects such as business banking,
commercial lending, business entity advising, and more. These
workshops are meant to provide entrepreneurs with the skills and
knowledge they need to start their business. In addition, the
program include assisting participant obtain their fictitious
business cards, name and license along with referring them to
partnering institutions for business banking.
Technical Assistance Workshops
- QuickBooks with Michael & Company LLC, Certified
Accountants & Tax Consultants
- Healthy Credit with Minority Business Development Center
- Web Gap Solutions with Creative Solutions
- EZ/Empowerment Zone benefits with City of Fresno, Economic
Development Department
Technology Competency Workshops
The center offers basic assistance on Microsoft Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and the high speed internet access at our on-site
eight-station computer lab. This assistance helps to close the
digital divide experienced by some our constituents. For
those needing in-depth training, we refer them to the free one-day
courses at Caesar Chavez Adult School covering Microsoft suite
programs.
TheFresnoSmall Business Roundtable
The Fresno Small
Business Roundtable was established to assist small business owners
within the Fresno Empowerment Zone area to expand with the goal of
increasing employment opportunities to the region. FWCED host its
quarterly luncheon, which serves as (1) an opportunity for business
owners to gain valuable information in dealing with difficulties
they face and (2) to expand the supportive network.
- Small
Business Roundtable is presented by Fresno Works for
Better Health in partnership with the Fresno Regional Jobs
Initative
The African-American Coalition for Capital Access
(Microenterprise Loan)
The African America Coalition for Capital Access
(AACCA), a community based entity, was created to provide financial
assistance to underserved communities and overlooked minority and
women business owners. The main purpose of this pilot program
is to identify and train new and existing African American owned
businesses on how to understand the process of a loan and give them
access to commercial lending. The loans will range from
$5,000.00 to $35,000.00. Valley Small Business Development
Corporation has already started similar programs throughout
Central
California with the Hmong and Latino
business communities.
For more information:
Supporters
- Fresno Works for Better Health Initative funded by The Calfornia Endowment and The Rockerfeller Foundation
- Bank of the West
- University Business Center at California State University, Fresno
- City of Fresno
- California Consumer Protection Foundation
