GENERAL PROGRAMS
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 entrepreneurship, financial self-sufficiency and professional development. | |
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! | |
ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT
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. | |
WBDC Business Planning Program including FastTrac® New Venture™
The FastTrac New Venture® program helped me develop my business concept. The program gave me a realistic view of what presenting my concept to various investors, bankers etc. would be like. – Monique Wilson Through my instructor's stewardship of the FastTrac® course, I have learned the importance of planning... I believe the courses I have taken and the coaches I have met will be instrucmental in my future success. As a matter of fact, I am certain of it!
-Eva Toft
WBDC is a leader in entrepreneurial training, so we know what’s involved in launching and growing a small business. In the past 16 years, WBDC has helped clients launch hundreds of businesses. Participants work on their own business ideas, moving their ventures to reality or new levels of growth, helped by instructors and guest speakers/counselors. Designed for the aspiring business owner, FastTrac® New Venture™ focuses on matching participants’ business development needs to the business plans they develop to make their vision a reality.
For more information contact Kim DeSousa at 203.353.1750 or KDeSousa@ctwbdc.org.  | |
Licensing and Registration in Connecticut - Walk-in Days
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. | |
Learn How to Become a Certified Woman-Owned Business - Walk-in Day and Teleclass
WBDC is providing clients with an opportunity to meet with the WPEO (Women’s Presidents’ Educational Organization) to learn how to become a certified women-owned business. Many corporations require that you be certified before providing access to their supplier diversity programs. | |
How to Start A Food Business: A 4-Part Series
This informative and interactive four-night series will provide you with an understanding of the basic requirements and insights into what it takes to be successful. At each session you will hear from industry experts, successful business owners and WBDC’s own business specialists. | |
Essential Skill: Writing to Sell
This exciting workshop helps you boost sales with a remarkably easy-to-use breakthrough approach to strategic communications. Now you can discover how to combine Persuasion Psychology, Proven Marketing Tactics and Strategic Planning Techniques to catapult your productivity to a new level of effectiveness and success. | |
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. | |
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 Counseling Servies include fine-tuning a business plan; profitability and forecasting your cash flow; financial statement review, financial negotiation coaching, sales management training, and much more. | |
And at the FINANCIAL CLINIC... Located in Stamford, WBDC's Financial Clinic (FC) provides a holistic approach to achieving economic security, business sustainability and growth for Connecticut residents and businesses. | |
Money Smart - Small Business Finance
Learn the basics about your business finances. Topics will include: Credit; Banking; Borrowing; Budgeting; Loans; Financial Management; Home Buying and more.
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Business Financial Walk-in Days
WBDC is offering free Financial Walk-in Days with a counselor who will assist you with a variety of business financial issues, such as understanding cash flow, developing a budget, financial forecasting and seeking capital. No appointment needed. Just walk in! | |
Access to Capital: Small Business Loan Options
Gain an understanding of traditional and non-traditional lenders, sources for alternative loans and the requirements you need 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. | |
PERSONAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION
The financial stress due to the economic climate is overwhelming. Are you concerned if you can pay your bills, uncertain about your future, how to plan for your children’s education and/or your retirement? It is critical that you gain an understanding of your current financial picture as well as set future financial goals. WBDC’s financial programs can provide clarity on what is important in your life and your personal finances. WBDC offers Financial Education via Budget Coaching, Advanced Coaching and Workshops throughout Connecticut to help you get your personal finances in order as well as empower you to have financial control of your life. | | |
Advanced Financial Coaching – an extended coaching program where clients who are experiencing financial crisis, (i.e. large debt, bankruptcy, foreclosure, etc.) work with a financial coach for a minimum of 6-months.
Call 203.353.1750 with your questions about WBDC's personal financial education programs and services. | | |
Personal Financial Walk-in Days
Meet with WBDC's personal finance counselor to help you address a variety of financial issues, such as: home buying, your credit score, your credit report, developing a personal budget and much more. No appointment needed. Just walk in! | |
Money Smart - Personal Finance
Learn the basics about your personal finances. Topics will include: Credit; Banking; Borrowing; Budgeting; Loans; Financial Management; Home Buying and more.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Whether entering or re-entering the workforce, or re-inventing one’s career, WBDC offers workshops and one on one career coaching and counseling which provides guidance to those who want to excel in their current career, are unemployed or who are exploring other professional avenues in order to reach their goals. | |
Resume Writing for Today's Market Place
The most challenging aspect of a job search in today’s economic climate is having a solid resume that gets you noticed. This program will assist you in creating an effective resume or improving the one you already have. | |
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. | |
Focus Coaching involves meeting with a professional career coach to help discover your true potential, define goals and creates a practical action plan. Career and Entrepreneurial Coaching can help produce extraordinary results – coaching accelerates progress by providing greater focus and awareness of your choices, encourages self-discovery and offers an outside perspective and objective feedback. Focus Coaching is affordable, rewarding and realistic.
Career and Professional Development Counseling provides guidance and insight on resume updating, interviewing and networking techniques and the use of technology throughout the job search process.
Call 203.353.1750 with your questions about WBDC’s professional and career development services. SPECIAL EVENTS | |
"Sweet Dreams" Documentary Premiere WBDC is proud to present the Connecticut Film Premiere of “Sweet Dreams,” a documentary which follows a remarkable group of Rwandan women as they emerge from the devastation of the genocide to create a new future for themselves and their families via entrepreneurship. WBDC’s CEO, Fran Pastore traveled to Rwanda to guide these women on starting Rwanda’s first ice cream shop. She provided business counseling and guidance on finances. Join Fran and WBDC as we celebrate this empowering story and embrace global entrepreneurship. Contact Beth Dolan at 203.353.1750 or BDolan@ctwbdc.org for more information. | |
WBDC Radio Show: Connect-Grow-Influence Women with Impact WBDC has launched its own monthly radio show, “Women with Impact,” hosted by WBDC’s CEO Fran Pastore. Every month Fran invites key local and national women to discuss an array of critical issues affecting women in business.The show is part of the WPKN Community Hour and is aired the first Tuesday of every month. Tune in to hear Fran on WPKN Radio, 89.5 FM!
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WBDC SCHOLARSHIP FUND | The WBDC Scholarship Fund assures enrollment to eligible applicants regardless of ability to pay by providing fee reductions or full scholarships to low-income clients. Fees for programs and services are determined by a sliding scale based on yearly income. Speak to your WBDC Business/Career Specialist for a confidential application. |  Funded in part through a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Small Business Administration. |
NO REFUNDS. WBDC reserves the right to cancel any program
WBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) & The Office of Financial Assistance. The OWBO is established to help women become full partners in economic development through small business ownership. SBA’s cooperation does not constitute or imply its endorsement of any opinions, products and/or services. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. |