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April 5, 2007
The Battle Creek Area Chamber Foundation received a generous grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to establish the Battle Creek Self-Employment Program (BSEP), a microenterprise development program.
Microenterprise development is a poverty-reducing, income-generating, economic development strategy that helps low-income people start or expand very small businesses. A microenterprise is a sole proprietorship, partnership or family business that has fewer than five employees and is small enough to benefit from loans under $35,000. However, these individuals or businesses are too small or are otherwise unable to access commercial banking services due to a lack of collateral and/or assets, equity, credit or business experience.
The Battle Creek Self-Employment Project is operated by the Chamber Foundation at the Urban League and provides:
1. Access to capital: micro-loans and related assistance.
2. Training: 36 hours of required classroom instruction.
3. Technical assistance: individual instruction, guidance, counseling, consulting and comprehensive business plan development.
4. Access to business certification program for women and minority-owned businesses.
5. Networking activities for clients.
6. A business incubator: office space for emerging companies
7. A business resource center at the Urban League: computers, a business library and work areas.
8. Follow-up counseling and support for client: graduates are matched up with mentors who provide on-going support during the start-up phases of their business.
Our mission is to reduce poverty by creating self-employment opportunities for underserved populations as an economic development strategy for community building. Our primary objective is to provide business support services at the Urban League building to underserved sectors of our economy: the unbankable, and those who need education and training to help them succeed in their entrepreneurial endeavors and start their own businesses. Our program serves persons of low income, women and minorities, although our services will be available to all area citizens. Our leadership and staff are diverse and reflective of and responsive to our customers and we will be a service- and customer-driven organization. Our efforts are guided by our Microenterprise Advisory Group, a diverse cross-section of area business owners.
The Battle Creek Self-Employment Project will work as a partner with many organizations to coordinate services and to ensure there is no duplication. We will make client referrals to other organizations such as Battle Creek Unlimited, Guardian Inc., the Urban League and others. In this way, we support the creation of personal assets and financial literacy for our clients.
We opened our doors at the Urban League last fall with our first class of students, 14 of whom graduated in November. We are currently training our second class of 21 students. We are excited about the prospects for success that lie ahead for our graduates.
The next class of the Battle Creek Self-Employment Program begins May 19. Please check the Battle Creek Shopper for the orientation schedule beginning at 5:30 p.m. April 9 at the Urban League of Battle Creek. Take the time to pass this information on to someone you know with business dreams. Our motto is "We help you give wings to your business dreams!"
WANT TO MENTOR?
The Battle Creek Self-Employment Program still needs mentors. We need business people to support our new business owners. Can you volunteer two to four hours per month? The program mentors:
# Set an agenda for each meeting with their protégé.
# Make sure goals are attainable.
# Assist protégé in obtaining additional resources.
# Increase protégé's opportunity to interact with other business, social and cultural groups, thereby developing business skills
Our office is located at the Urban League of Battle Creek, 172 W. Van Buren St. Office hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and Friday by appointment. You may receive information about the program by calling 269-962-8996 ask for: Gail Lindsey, vice president of administration and investor relations; Bernard Young, manager of training and loans; or Del McClenney, manager of marketing and community outreach or at www.battlecreek.org/chamber/index2.html.
We recognize and thank all of our partners, especially the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, our Microenterprise Development Advisory Group, the Urban League, Battle Creek Unlimited and Guardian Inc. We are honored to work with you to make Battle Creek an even better place to live, work and own a business.
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