Stamford, CT - The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), a leader in helping women become economically self-sufficient through entrepreneurial training, offers numerous programs to help clients start or improve their own business, find employment or increase their financial stability. To register or obtain more information about WBDC programs visit ctwbdc.org; call 203.353-1750; or e-mail info@ctwbdc.org.
Information Sessions - Discover WBDC’s resources for business, personal finance and professional development. Attend a free session and learn how WBDC's programs and services can provide you with the tools to prepare for your future through self-employment, self-sufficiency and professional development. No charge/Registration required.
Tuesday, January 24 from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM at the WBDC Stamford office
Monday, January 30 from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shelton
Wednesday, February 22 from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at the WBDC Stamford office
Monday, March 26 from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at The Naugatuck Valley Community, Waterbury
Walk-in Days - No appointment needed and no charge to meet with a WBDC counselor. Learn how WBDC programs and services can help with your individual business, personal finance and professional development needs. Just walk in!
Wednesday, January 18 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at The WBDC Stamford Office
Monday, January 23 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shelton
Thursday, February 9 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at The WBDC Stamford Office
Wednesday, February 15 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shelton
Monday, February 27 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, The Naugatuck Valley Community, Waterbury
Wednesday, March 7 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shelton
Monday, March 12 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, The Naugatuck Valley Community, Waterbury
Tuesday, March 27 from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce
One-on-One Internet Training - If your computer and Internet experience is not quite what you would like it to be, here is your chance to upgrade your skills and optimize your potential for success in today’s marketplace! Register for a free, one-on-one session with a WBDC counselor. Learn how to obtain a free email account, send and receive email messages, set up an address book, and send attachments. Discover the benefits of using search engines, perform simple searches, and learn how to navigate to the web pages of valuable business sites. No charge; call for an appointment
Exploring Entrepreneurship - Starting your own business requires more than just a good idea. The WBDC’s free “Exploring Entrepreneurship” seminar will provide aspiring business owners with insight into what they need to get started. Participants will take a thoughtful view of their ideas/visions, and investigate the feasibility of turning them into reality. No charge/Registration required
Wednesday, January 18 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Martin Luther King Apartments, Norwalk. In partnership with New Neighborhoods Inc.
Tuesday, January 31 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Friendship House, Stamford. In partnership with New Neighborhoods Inc.
Monday, February 6 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at University of Bridgeport: Stamford Campus
Friday, February 10 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Shelton
February 13 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Naugatuck Valley Community College, Women’s Center, Waterbury
Thursday, February 16 from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM at Norwalk Housing, Norwalk
FastTrac® New Venture™ Business Planning Class for Start Ups - Designed for the aspiring business owner, FastTrac® New Venture™ focuses on matching participants’ business development needs to the business plan they develop to make their vision a reality. Program includes nine three-hour classes, plus three additional counseling sessions after completion of course work.
WBDC is now accepting applications for enrollment. Eligibility Requirements: Must have a defined business concept. Registration and material fee upon acceptance into the program: $250
Material fee discounts available via scholarships to those who qualify based on income guidelines. Application deadline is Friday, February 17. Contact Aiesha Mclean for an application at 203.353.1750 or AMclean@ctwbdc.org.
February 22, 29, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18. Counseling Sessions: May 2, 9, 16 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce
February 28, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10, 17, 24. Counseling Sessions: May 8, 15, 22 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at The Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
Sessions Include
Review of Business Concept/Business Plan Elements; Setting Financial Goals
Identifying and Meeting Market Needs; Researching and Analyzing the Market
Planning the Product/Service
Reaching the Market
Building the Organizational/Legal Team
Planning for a Profitable Business
Monitoring Cash Flow and Seeking Funds
Business Advisory Networking
Implementing Next Steps
Access to Capital: Small Business Loan Options - Join WBDC and our panel of commercial bankers and non-bank lenders to learn about opportunities to secure capital for your business. Gain an understanding between traditional and non-traditional lenders, sources for alternative loans and the requirements needed to qualify. If you are ready to open or expand your business and want to understand the sources of capital available to you, don’t miss this informative seminar. No charge/Registration required
Tuesday. March 6 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
Thursday, January 19 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Huntington Branch Library, Shelton
Teleclass: Doing Business with the Federal Government - Small businesses are always looking for new ways to expand their customer base – but even more so in this difficult economy. Have you considered working with the federal government? It has special programs for small business owners.
Join WBDC for an interactive teleclass that will provide established small business owners with critical information on how to do just that. You will learn where to register, resources and programs available, marketing tips, how to decipher federal set-asides, and how to find available bids. Navigating through the Central Contracting Registry (CCR) and FedBizOps as well as SBA’s new set-aside program for Women Owned Small Businesses and Economically Disadvantaged Small Businesses will also be covered. No charge/ Registration required
Tuesday, January 31 from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM. Teleclass.
Licensing and Registration in Connecticut – Walk In Day - Every business in Connecticut needs to register and some may require one or more licenses. Beth Wallace, Director of CT Licensing Information Center, will provide you with the information that all new, expanding and relocating businesses need for doing business in CT. Then she will point you to other programs and resources that are available to help your business be successful. Need help in navigating Connecticut’s regulatory maze? Just walk in! No charge/No appointment needed.
Tuesday, February 7 from 10:00AM – 3:00PM at WBDC’s Stamford office.
Beating the Fear Factor! Why Business Financial Statements Matter - It’s essential for every small business owner to be conversant in financial statements and understand what they can tell you about your business; yet many are too intimidated to even attempt to decode them. This five-session series is designed for all level of entrepreneurs. It will show the small business owner what information financial statements provide and why it’s critical to understand them. Join WBDC’s financial expert Chris Schoen, who will provide guidance in reviewing these statements in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Conquer your fear by attending this program!
One-hour individual counseling session available to the first five paid registrants. By appointment; session will be conducted after each session from 12PM-1PM. Fee: $50/registration required
Saturday, February 25, March 3, 10, 17, 31 from 9:30 AM – 11:45 PM at Norwalk Community College.
Feb. 25th – Session I: Overview of financial statements and Income Statement
March 3rd – Session II: Focus on Cash Flow
March 10th – Session III: Examination of Balance Sheet
March 17th – Session IV: Inter-relationship of Statements and Analytic tools
March 31st – Session V: Inter-relationship of Statements and Analytic tools
Teleclass: Learn How to Become a Certified Woman-Owned Business - Your business can apply for certification that is accepted by more than 700 major corporations and non-profit organizations, as well as many local, state, and federal government agencies. Attain this important marketing tool for expanding your company's visibility and gaining access to decision-makers in supplier diversity and procurement offices. No charge/Registration required.
Wednesday, February 29th from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM. Teleclass.
Social Media Saturday - This three-session interactive program will not only allow you to meet with social media experts but also provide the opportunity for you to network with other entrepreneurs all in half a day. Classes will be presented simultaneously during all three sessions making it possible to take one, two, or all three if you so choose. Check-in by 9:15 AM to participate in any of the day’s programs. No charge/Registration required.
Saturday, March 24 from 9:00 AM – 12:40 PM at Norwalk Community College, Norwalk.
Agenda
9:00 – 9:15 – Check-in//networking/refreshments
9:15 – 10:15 – Session I
10:30 – 11:30 – Session II
11:30 – 11:40 – Networking break
11:40 – 12:40 – Session III
Sessions will include:
Using Social Media to Build a Social Business Agenda - Social media has come a long way from the early days of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. We have all felt its impact in our personal lives, but the pace is accelerating and the drive to harness social tools for business process improvement is more important than ever. Even more so in small business when these tools can make your business more efficient.
How can an entrepreneur apply social techniques to his/her business to increase productivity, enhance innovation and reduce costs? How does a company become a social business? Using actionable frameworks and case studies, Sandy Carter, Social Business Evangelist, will discuss how you can create your own social business agenda for greater competitive advantage in 2012.
The New Frontier: Legal Implications Of Social Media - Social media has changed how people, find and relate to small businesses. It also allows the small business owner to advertise products/services and brands, promote events, host contests, post pictures, and much, much, more. Learn the legal risks surrounding use of Social Media in connection with trademarks, copyrights, product endorsements, sweepstakes and contests, publicity rights, privacy rights, negative postings and comparative advertising.
The New Media – Evolution or Revolution? - A radical change has occurred in the marketing and advertising world. Consumers are no longer intently listening to the mass media. Instead of being "told", people want to be "talked with" and "listened to" about products, services and how they can meet their needs. Being a small business is about competing on quality and commitment. The new media tools can help make it personal.
Where do you start? Where is your customer in the new media world? What new media tools should I use? How do I connect with potential customers? How can the new media help me build my business?
WBDC’s new media expert will provide insight into this brave new world.
Things Your Parents Never Taught You: Building Personal Credit - What does it mean to have good credit? How do you obtain good credit with a poor credit history? All consumers have a vested interest in understanding, establishing and preserving their credit worthiness and credit standing in order to access financing, obtain employment and merit lower interest rates.
Learn from WBDC’s financial expert how to read your credit report, understand your credit/FICO score, as well as how to improve your credit worthiness. Understanding how credit works is key to saving money and establishing a successful personal financial future. No Charge/Registration required.
Thursday, March 15 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Operation Hope, Fairfield.
Budget Coaching - WBDC's Personal Financial Education offers a four-month Budget Coaching program to assist clients in acquiring these skills. We facilitate and empower you to build a budget and a plan that supports your needs and goals for today and your future. Through this program you will uncover more choices in managing how you think, feel, and act around money.
The program includes an orientation workshop and three months of one-on-one coaching. Your budget coach will work with you on setting short- and long-term financial goals, help you develop and review your budget, formulate an action plan and discuss your credit score.
Qualified candidates must complete an application, participate in an assessment phone interview and attend a two-hour orientation/workshop. WBDC is now accepting applications for enrollment. Registration and material fee upon acceptance into the program: $50. Application deadline: Friday, March 2. Enrollment is limited. Contact Aiesha Mclean now for an application at 203.353.1750 or AMclean@ctwbdc.org.
Orientation Workshop on Tuesday, March 8th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Norwalk City Hall.
Business Counseling - Facing a specific business challenge? Meet with a WBDC business counselor for a one-on-one counseling session in marketing, legal issues, finance and other concentrations, including but not limited to, insurance, human resources, and taxes. Appointment required; location and time TBD upon registration. $50 per session/hour; discounts available via scholarships to those who qualify based on household income guidelines.
Business Sustainability/Access to Capital Assistance - Do you need help developing your business or funding it to expand and grow? WBDC's “Business Sustainability and Access to Capital” counselors can individually assist and guide clients in key areas to grow their businesses. WBDC counselors will work with you one-on-one to ensure that you have a clear plan for moving your business forward. Counseling services include fine-tuning a business plan, profitability and forecasting your cash flow, financial statement review, financial negotiation coaching, sales management training, and much more. Appointment required; locations/time TBD upon registration. Fees contingent on services needed.
