WOMEN'S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (WBDC) RECEIVES GRANT FROM CITY OF NORWALK

Stamford, CT. The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) received a $40,000 grant from the city of Norwalk's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The grant is the largest the organization has ever received from a municipality. The grant will be used to educate and train members of the Norwalk community who have a desire to start a small business or who already own and operate existing small businesses. The CDBG program, originally conceived as a federal anti-poverty program, will provide the funds to assist WBDC to ramp-up outreach efforts in low-income communities and conduct programs and business counseling to prospective low-income entrepreneurs.

"The City of Norwalk is delighted to welcome WBDC, one of the region's premier non-profit small business counseling organizations," said Mayor Knopp. "The City's $40,000 allocation of CDBG funds will provide direct economic opportunities for low and moderate income residents of Norwalk. With this funding, WBDC will directly outreach to the Norwalk community, take individual's entrepreneurial concepts and help them to form those concepts into viable strategies for starting up their businesses," stated Mayor Knopp.

A Small Business Resource Workshop will be held on Monday, October 27th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Norwalk Public Library. This Free, 2-hour session will provide information on programs and services available at WBDC, specific areas important to the development of one's business, and WBDC's extensive network of local, state and national resources. The workshop motivates and inspires participants to transform their ideas into practical action plans. Space is limited and Pre-registration is required. Entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs can reserve a seat by contacting Danielle Lima at 353-1750 X 14 or via email at info@ ctwbdc.org.

The grant will also contribute to WBDC's expansion of activities in Norwalk with the November 2003 launch of the Career and Self Employment Readiness Program, a program sponsored by the Workplace Inc. that offers self-employment training to low-income individuals.

Fran Pastore, WBDC President & CEO said "This is a very significant partnership between the city of Norwalk and WBDC. It represents the commitment the city has made to its entrepreneurs and recognizes the impact small businesses have on the economic vitality of this community." The funds from the city of Norwalk are especially critical to WBDC during these challenging economic times for non profits.

The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is a nonprofit organization that was established to promote economic development through entrepreneurship. WBDC's goal is to increase opportunities for economic independence through comprehensive training, business assistance, networking and access to financial resources. WBDC also provides Professional Development for those individuals in need of career assistance.

WBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBC) and 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 non-discriminatory basis.