Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Through our training, business consulting, and lending programs, we were able to help women launch or grow 187 small businesses this year that produced $21 million in gross sales and created or retained 805 jobs. We provided loans to 28 businesses totaling $456,000. And the most exciting numbers of all, our women business owners created an average of 3 jobs paying a median wage of $30 per hour! For every dollar invested in WomenVenture’s clients last year, they returned $10 back to the local economy.
Current Goals
Fiscal Year 2016 Entrepreneurship Program Goals:
-Serve 1,410 clients in any Business Development service.
-Provide 6,270 total hours of training.
-Provide 2,782 total hours of consulting to loan clients.
-Assist with the start-up or expansion of 277 businesses.
-Create or retain 1,011 jobs through businesses assisted.
-Provide $630,000 in loans to small businesses.
-Provide sufficient support to loan clients to achieve a loan default rate less than 5%.
Community or Constituency Served
WomenVenture serves entrepreneurs and small businesses. Our target population is low- to moderate-income women (at or below 80% of the area median income) of all ages, cultures, races, and ethnicities.
Geographic Area Served
We primarily serve the 12-county Twin Cities metropolitan area: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, McLeod, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties.
