CED Partners
United States:
Mexico:
Canada:
California
BusinesStarts operates as a program of JobStarts, a job readiness,
training, placement and mentoring program focusing on south Los
Angeles. MEDA worked with JobStarts in partnership with other
community-based and faith-based programs, churches and financial
institutions in south Los Angeles to create a microenterprise program.
BusinesStarts held is first training class in September, 1999.
BusinesStarts offers an eight-week Business Design and Management
Training workshop covering the basics of operating a business, along
with a six-week financial literacy program and Individual Development
Accounts that help qualified low-income entrepreneurs develop capital
for microenterprise start-up or expansion through a matched-savings
program.
www.jobstarts.org
Capacity Partnership Project—With funding from the
Compassion Capital
Fund of the Department of Health & Human Services, MEDA provided
capacity building support to sixteen organizations in Los Angeles,
California from 2002 to 2005. MEDA worked with a diverse group of
community and faith-based organizations to help improve their efforts
to serve the needs of their clients. MEDA’s capacity building program
included organizational assessment, technical assistance and
sub-awards. Participating organizations received assistance in areas
such as governance, planning, program design, program monitoring,
financial management, fundraising and marketing.
Florida
ASSETS Miami—Launched in February 2003 with assistance from MEDA,
ASSETS Miami is a program of South Florida Urban Ministries. ASSETS
Miami serves lower and moderate income entrepreneurs throughout
Miami-Dade County by equipping them with the skills and knowledge they
need to launch or expand a business. The program offers an 11 week
training program that includes coaching sessions and developing a
business plan. Volunteers from the business community offer their
expertise throughout the class sessions. Classes are held in both
English and Spanish.
www.sflum.org
Capacity Partnership Project—With funding from the
Compassion Capital
Fund of the Department of Health & Human Services, MEDA provided
capacity building support to nine organizations in Miami, Florida from
2002 to 2005. MEDA worked with a diverse group of community and
faith-based organizations to help improve their efforts to serve the
needs of their clients. MEDA’s capacity building program included
organizational assessment, technical assistance and sub-awards.
Participating organizations received assistance in areas such as
governance, planning, program design, program monitoring, financial
management, fundraising and marketing.
Illinois
ASSETS Peoria was initiated by Christian Family Center Corporation in
2000. After the completion of the feasibility study and the formation
of an advisory board in collaboration with MEDA, ASSETS Peoria was
formed in August, 2002. The first classes were held in January
2003. Services offered by ASSETS Peoria include training and mentoring.
The parent organization of ASSETS Peoria, Christian Family Center
Corporation (CFCC), offers many supportive services to help individuals
maintain and sustain their small business. They have an Individual
Development Program (IDA) where students can save up to $2,000 and
receive a 2 to 1 match with a total savings of $6,000 towards their
small business. CFCC also has case managers who offer comprehensive
coordination services to assist students with eliminating barriers
hindering the success of their small business.
ASSETS Chicago—Initiated by a group of local small business advocates,
community leaders and churches, ASSETS Chicago opened its doors in
2004. ASSETS Chicago received technical assistance from MEDA on
organizational and microenterprise program start-up. ASSETS Chicago
offers the Blueprint for Business Success program, which provides
training and individual consulting to teach entrepreneurs different
aspects of small business operation. Located in Little Village, a
Latino neighborhood, ASSETS Chicago reaches out to a diverse group of
clientele.
www.assetschicago.org
Capacity Partnership Project—With funding from the
Compassion Capital
Fund of the Department of Health & Human Services, MEDA provided
capacity building support to eight organizations in Chicago, Illinois
from 2002 to 2005. MEDA worked with a diverse group of community and
faith-based organizations to help improve their efforts to serve the
needs of their clients. MEDA’s capacity building program included
organizational assessment, technical assistance and sub-awards.
Participating organizations received assistance in areas such as
governance, planning, program design, program monitoring, financial
management, fundraising and marketing.
Indiana
ASSETS Elkhart County is a faith-based not-for-profit organization that
provides training and support for entrepreneurs. Its mission is to
create self-employment opportunities and encourage community
development by providing training and support to aspiring small
business owners in Elkhart County. ASSETS Elkhart County was initiated
by Michiana MEDA with a template for the training program and
consultation from MEDA. ASSETS Elkhart County has working partnerships
with the Goshen College business department and Microenterprise
Learning Center, LaCasa's Financial Fitness and IDA programs and the
Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, Minority Business Development Council.
Capacity Partnership Project—With funding from the
Compassion Capital
Fund of the Department of Health & Human Services, MEDA provided
capacity building support to six organizations in Indianapolis, Indiana
from 2002 to 2005. MEDA worked with a diverse group of community and
faith-based organizations to help improve their efforts to serve the
needs of their clients. MEDA’s capacity building program included
organizational assessment, technical assistance and sub-awards.
Participating organizations received assistance in areas such as
governance, planning, program design, program monitoring, financial
management, fundraising and marketing.
Louisiana
Post Disaster Business Assistance—MEDA
is partnering with Mennonite Disaster Service in New Orleans to assist
local businesses to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The project aims
to stabilize family incomes and contribute to revitalization of
communities.
Project goals include:
-
Respond
to immediate needs of business owners on a wide range of strategic and
logistical issues through business assistance clinics;
-
Provide linkages to resources available from other agencies;
-
Assist businesses in accessing capital needed for rebuilding; and
-
Develop
partnerships to build capacity of local organizations to continue to
serve the small business community after the end of the project.
Ohio
ASSETS Toledo is based in Toledo and serves Lucas County, Ohio. Several
Toledo churches, MEDA members in Northwest Ohio and MEDA initiated
ASSETS Toledo in 1998; the first training class was held in January
2000. ASSETS Toledo provides practical, experience-based training for
those starting or expanding a small business. Other services at ASSETS
Toledo include individual technical assistance, mentors and an alumni
group that provides peer support, networking, and ongoing technical
assistance for those in business. New to the ASSETS Toledo program is a
Loan Fund. The loan fund assists graduates who need a microloan for
their small business, but are unable to access a conventional loan.
www.assetstoledo.com
Pennsylvania
ASSETS Lancaster—ASSETS Lancaster serves Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania. It was initiated by MEDA and MEDA members as a pilot
project in 1993. ASSETS Lancaster offers a variety of services through
the ASSETS Center for Small Business Development. The center includes a
business incubator for young and growing business plus business
training courses in both English and Spanish. Classes are taught by
local business and professional persons. Individual technical
assistance and mentors are also available.
www.assetslancaster.org
ASSETS Montco, located in Norristown, PA, opened in September 1996 and
held its first training class in January 1997. The program is a
replication of the pilot project started in Lancaster, PA. ASSETS
Montco was started by the local MEDA chapter, Norristown Ministries,
Inc., and a coalition of local churches and various community leaders.
ASSETS Montco's mission is to assist residents of Montgomery County
with limited resources who have a personal vision for self-employment
and small business initiatives. It provides hands-on training, peer
mentoring and a support network.
The ASSETS Trehab Program is a training, mentoring and technical
support program for entrepreneurs, with emphasis on serving low-
to-middle income participants. ASSETS Trehab is housed within The
Trehab Center, a community action agency that operates in six counties
of Northern Pennsylvania (Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Sullivan,
Wyoming and Tioga). ASSETS Trehab was initiated by The Trehab Center in
1999, with assistance from MEDA. The Trehab Center offers training,
technical assistance, mentoring and a revolving loan fund.
www.trehab.org
Business Partners is a collaboration between the Fayette County
Community Action Agency and Community Action Southwest serving Fayette,
Washington and Greene counties. The program is housed within the
Southwest PA Community Development Corporation (a certified CDFI). The
community development corporation also operates the Tri-County Loan
Fund, Republic Business Incubator and a Commercial Kitchen. Business
Partners received technical assistance from MEDA on organizational and
microenterprise program start-up. Business Partners provides a
continuum of business development services (training, technical
assistance and access to resources) for residents in Fayette, Greene
and Washington counties.
The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh's YW Enterprising Women is based upon
MEDA's newly revised
ASSETS+ model. Beginning in January 2006, YW
Enterprising Women will offer an eight week training course along with
technical assistance, mentoring and a Peer Loan Fund. The YWCA's
microenterprise program complements existing services such as
Individual Development Accounts, financial literacy education and
services to childcare businesses.
The Community Action Partnership of Mercer County has partnered with
MEDA to develop an
ASSETS+ program in Mercer, Pennsylvania. The
Community Action Partnership provides critical services to many
low-income residents in Mercer County through housing services, early
childhood education and job placement programs. To date MEDA has
provided pre-development support to the Community Action Partnership to
determine feasibility and provided assistance in implementing the
ASSETS+ program. The Community Action Partnership began offering business training classes in January 2006.
Warren-Forest Economic Opportunity Council, with assistance from MEDA,
has undertaken the development of an ASSETS+ program to serve
entrepreneurs in Warren County, Pennsylvania. Specifically MEDA has
provided coaching to microbusiness program staff, training on the
curriculum and fundraising support. The Warren-Forest Economic
Opportunity Council held their first training class in
January 2006. The
ASSETS+ program will be added to existing financial
self-sufficiency programs such as budget counseling and family savings
accounts.
Community Action Partnership of Somerset County has collaborated with
MEDA to establish an ASSETS+ program in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Currently the Community Action Partnership provides a variety of
programs including housing assistance, life skills training, job
placement, food pantries and a range of educational opportunities.
These existing programs will provide wrap-around support services for
ASSETS+ program participants. To date MEDA has provided pre-development
support and is currently assisting in the implementation of the
program. The Community Action Partnership of Somerset County began offering business training classes in April 2006.
Small Business Jump Start, a partnership between Franklin Industrial
and Commercial Development Authority, Clarion / Venango Educational
Resources Alliance and MEDA began offering business training as a
part of their microbusiness program in March 2006. In addition to
training, the program will include a mircoloan fund and provide mentors
to participants. Franklin Industrial & Commercial Development
Authority, the host of the program, operates a facility for new and
expanding businesses with the objective of creating and retaining
employment opportunities, and diversify the industrial mixture in the
area through development and nurturing of new start-up businesses. MEDA
has provided curriculum training, fundraising assistance and coaching
to microbusiness staff in preparation for the opening of the Small
Business Jump Start program.
www.ficda.org
South Central Community Action Programs, Inc. (SCCAP) has collaborated with MEDA to establish the BusinessStarts program in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. SCCAP coordinates charitable human services for the benefit of Adams
and York County and assists low-income families/individuals help
themselves. The ASSETS+ program will complement existing asset-building
services already provided by SCCAP including: family savings accounts,
housing rehabilitation, child care information services (CCIS), a child
care center for children from 0-12 and a social enterprise program
(Seeds to Success). The Seeds to Success program operates both a
commercial kitchen and an organic garden that produces salad greens for
wholesale buyers in the region. Sales from the wholesale salad greens
generates substantial revenue that facilitates community-based year
round life skills training and therapeutic programs for prison inmates
and adults performing court-ordered community service in Adams County.
SCCAP started its business training courses in April 2006.
www.sccap.org
Capacity Partnership Project—With funding from the
Compassion Capital
Fund of the Department of Health & Human Services, MEDA provided
capacity building support to six organizations in Pennsylvania from
2002 to 2005. MEDA worked with a diverse group of community and
faith-based organizations to help improve their efforts to serve the
needs of their clients. MEDA’s capacity building program included
organizational assessment, technical assistance and sub-awards.
Participating organizations received assistance in areas such as
governance, planning, program design, program monitoring, financial
management, fundraising and marketing.
West Virginia
SAFE (Stop Abusive Family Environments) was formed in 1981 to provide
services to domestic violence victims. Over the last 20 years they have
expanded their services to meet the growing needs in McDowell County,
West Virginia. SAFE provides transitional housing, home ownership
opportunities and employment for local residents in their construction
company. Recently SAFE expanded its economic development efforts and is
in the process of opening a business incubator to sell local crafts and
food and a campground adjacent to a new recreation area. The addition
of an
ASSETS+ program will strengthen their support to local
entrepreneurs. MEDA is providing pre-development assistance, curriculum
training, and coaching to microbusiness staff in preparation for the
opening of their ASSETS+ program. Business training will begin in 2006.
Mexico
Mexico City
ASSETS Mexico City was initiated by Micro MEDA Mexico (MMM), a group of
Mennonite churches in Mexico, with assistance from MEDA and MEDA
members in North America. Original interest was in a microcredit
program, but after the completion of a feasibility study it became
apparent that small business training was needed instead. ASSETS Mexico
City opened its doors in April, 2001. The mission of ASSETS Mexico City
is to help those with low resources to become economically
self-sufficient. ASSETS Mexico City offers a training course in
microenterprise skills. ASSETS Mexico City works with other
organizations, including churches, to offer the ASSETS training course
in several locations.
Canada
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo Region ASSETS Project (WRAP) is a partnership between MEDA and Kitchener's downtown Working Centre. The Working Centre will furnish the location and support for the classes while Kitchener's House of Friendship will refer people to the program. This project is financed by the Wilfred Schlegel memorial fund, which supports visionary initiatives with annual grants of up to $15,000. Aspiring entrepreneurs who sign up for the course get instruction in all aspects of a business start-up. Classes are taught primarily by a trainer with seasoned local businesspeople invited in for specific topics and to play other roles, such as mentoring. As a "final exam" each participant is required to develop a business plan for their prospective company.
