Out In The Mountains : News - New Scholarships Available at the Women's Small Business Program

by Gwyneth Carsten

     The Women’s Small Business Program is pleased to announce a scholarship fund for low- and moderate-income lesbians, bisexual women, and transgendered people. The scholarships will allow several individuals to take Start Up, a semester long business planning class. The course guides prospective and existing business owners through the necessary steps to write a business plan, while testing the financial and market feasibility of their businesses. The Start Up curriculum includes personal and professional development, financials, marketing, and computer skills training. The 2001 fall Start Up course is starting in early September.
      The Women’s Small Business Program (WSBP) was awarded a grant from the Samara Foundation of Vermont to start the Samara Scholarship Fund. The mission of the Samara Foundation of Vermont is to support and strengthen Vermont’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities today and build an endowment for tomorrow. As small business owners enjoy meaningful employment and work towards economic self-sufficiency, they strengthen their families and communities. WSBP is excited to be able to offer the scholarship fund and help Samara Foundation work towards achieving its mission.
      WSBP’s mission is to foster women’s economic independence by teaching the skills needed for entrepreneurial success. WSBP provides individual business assistance, classroom training, a small business marketing group, business owner roundtables, and a business library and resource center
      WSBP has always encouraged lesbians and bisexual women to make use of our services. This scholarship fund is specifically for low- and moderate-income LBT Vermonters. WSBP is looking forward to continue providing the LBT communities with a safe and supportive learning environment and the skills needed to become successful business owners.
      If you are considering self-employment, but you are not sure if you are ready for the Start Up , sign up for RU12?’s Summer Semester class: “So You Wanna Start A Business,” sponsored by the Women’s Small Business Program. This class will help you understand the process of writing a business plan and will cover basic business know-how, including marketing and financial skills. This class will take place August 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 6 - 8 pm at Trinity College.
      If you would like more information about WSBP and the upcoming programs, contact Meredith Davis at 846-7338.