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Home My WebLink About10-04-2017 HRC Correspondence - Item 1 (Mission Community Services Corporation and The Women's Business Center) Mission Community Services Corporation Women’s Business Center Phone (805) 595-1357 Email: chuckj@mcscorp.org; 71 Zaca Lane, #130, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 www.mcscorp.org September 22, 2017 Mission Community Services Corporation and The Women’s Business Center The CASE FOR NEW BUSINESS STARTUPS and JOB CREATION in The CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO Mission Community Services Corporation (MCSC) will be requesting a $15,000 CDGB Grant to assist our Women’s Business Center’s (WBC) new and existing programs. Our WBC’s goal is to deliver Business Startup (self- employment) training courses, financial literacy classes, and invaluable business consulting, as well as educational workshops. While we are the Women’s Business Center, we are inclusive and approximately 30% of our clients are men. Our services are offered in English and in Spanish. Business technical assistance services offered by our WBC are as valuable and needed today as they have ever been. Viable employment, under-employment, and working below a living wage are all needs addressed through our services. These services are designed to improve the economic prosperity of the low-to-moderate income (LMI) target populations especially women, minorities, and veterans. We also inclusively serve displaced workers, homemakers, single parents, people with disabilities, and existing small business owners. It is through our services that small business development and expansion, as well as job creation and retention are attained. In addition to working with new entrepreneurs, we are dedicated to bringing existing businesses into legal compliance and planned growth, so they can effectively contribute to the long-term economic well-being of their community. Unemployment, underemployment, and earning below a living wage, are prominent issues that our clients and community endure. Conditions in San Luis Obispo are severely challenging. Well-paying jobs are limited, and the cost of living is 52% higher in San Luis Obispo than the national average. As a result, the gap between poverty and sustainability is growing, especially for women and Hispanic minorities. Women account for 49% of the local population, and approximately 70% of our clients. According to the 2011- 2015 Census Bureau Estimates, 27.5% of females in San Luis Obispo have some college but no degree, with only 9.6% of local females obtaining an associate’s degree. The annual earnings estimate for females with some college or associate’s degree is $27,000, keeping many women well within the low-income bracket, especially those with families. There is a tremendous need for our community to support and build its women. Hispanic women have an even lesser chance of becoming self-sustainable. According to the 2015 Women’s Legacy Fund Report, Hispanic women account for 20% of females in San Luis Obispo. Of this population, 32% of Latina’s drop out of school before obtaining a high school diploma or GED. Furthermore, the median income for Latina’s in 2013 was $16,600. As demonstrated by the above statistics, the WBC has found that the female demographic typically lacks the necessary knowledge, skills, business acumen, and network to successfully pursue small business ownership or earn a higher salary. This clearly shows a desperate need in our community for alternative educational programs that create a high quality, safe, and business professional environment. This is especially true for our female Hispanic population due Mission Community Services Corporation Women’s Business Center Phone (805) 595-1357 Email: chuckj@mcscorp.org; 71 Zaca Lane, #130, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 www.mcscorp.org to current immigration policies, which is resulting in Hispanics wanting to be less visible, and not reach out to better themselves, or even attend community colleges. WBC services address this problem by providing affordably accessible educational programs that concentrate on professional business development for women and other minorities in a safe and educational environment. Our WBC’s services benefit both employed and unemployed individuals. The critical knowledge and business acumen gained from our training help individuals learn, succeed and to grow a business, whether it is their own, or their employer’s. “Intrapreneurs” is the term that was developed for individuals who apply the entrepreneurial spirit internally within their existing job. As a result, even if our clients do not start a business, their new skills will allow them to earn more and assist their existing employer in achieving more growth and innovation; thereby strengthening our workforce. With the SLO City CDBG funding we can offer specialized programs that serve to decrease the gap between poverty, low income and sustainability through small business ownership, which results in new jobs created. LEVERAGED DOLLARS MCSC is partially funded by the SBA, and CDBG dollars will be used as cash match. This allows MCSC to access an equal amount from the SBA. Your grant of $15,000 is doubled and the city will receive $30,000 in services! NEW! Youth Entrepreneurial Training. While this CDGB funding will not be used for our Youth Program, we wanted to let you know that MCSC will be launching an innovative Youth Entrepreneurship program. This program will encourage students to explore viable small business ideas and develop their business skills. There is a huge need for us to provide this program as K-12 curriculum currently excludes business basics, which are essential skills for most career paths, and especially for the majority of students who do not go on to college. A pilot program this summer resulted in: • The kids all came up with viable, marketable ideas. Their innovation and creativity was impressive. • The teams all worked well together. Students were placed by strengths, balancing out personalities. • Experiential instruction included business math concepts, as well as business reading, speaking, organizing content and producing/tracking results. • Students experienced hands-on teamwork with an in-class store, as well as collective teamwork using technology to create their slide show/presentations. • Students created and delivered their business concept as a team, in front of over 50 people; a great first experience at public speaking and presenting. MCSC RESULTS Results from MCSC programs and services in San Luis Obispo County • 270 new jobs created or retained • Over 97 new business starts • Provided workshops and business startup training classes to 9,750+ clients with over 23,250 training hours • 640 unique businesses/aspirants receiving 3,450+ hours of consulting, to help guide their startup • Capital investment of over $4,216,000 and sales/profit increases of over $6,400,000 Mission Community Services Corporation Women’s Business Center Phone (805) 595-1357 Email: chuckj@mcscorp.org; 71 Zaca Lane, #130, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 www.mcscorp.org SPECIAL AWARD Mission Community Services Corporation (MCSC) is a 501(c)3 and has been host to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Women’s Business Center(WBC)since October 2006. In April 2016, MCSC was awarded the Women’s Business Center of the Year by the Small Business Administration for our district. In October of 2016 MCSC was also recognized by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. Recognition was for ten years of hosting the Women’s Business Center and MCSC’s contributions to small business success. Mission Statement: “Mission Community Services Corporation is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for potential entrepreneurs and small business owners to become self-sustaining, successful contributors to their communities, with special assistance for women, the low- to moderate income (LMI) population, minorities, veterans, and non-profit businesses.” We are a full service business technical assistance and training center. CONCLUSION The technical assistance program for which we have requested funds will make a difference for many individuals and families that strive toward self-sufficency. The outcomes of our services directly result in enhancing both individual and community economic advancement via new and better jobs created, and new succesful small busiensses. We appreciate your consideration of our request and for your support of the MCSC Women’s Business Center. Together, we can make a difference and continue as ongoing partners in new business startups, and in helping small businesses grow and succeed in our communities. Mission Community Services Corporation Women’s Business Center Phone (805) 595-1357 Email: chuckj@mcscorp.org; 71 Zaca Lane, #130, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 www.mcscorp.org MCSC Women’s Business Center Summary of MCSC Major Core Programs NO COST CONSULTING • Individual and confidential one-to-one counseling • On-Site Mobile Consulting • Web based consulting such as Skype • Email Consulting • Phone Consulting • Support Networks and Mentors • Consulting services to non-profits • Professional Technical Advisory Teams TRAINING AND EDUCATION: CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS • Self-employment Training: Start, Run, and Grow Your Business • Self-Employment Training in Spanish: Empezando – Como Iniciar su Negocio • New! Youth Entrepreneurship • Boots to Business and Start Run Grow for Veterans • QuickBooks Training: English and Spanish • Financial Literacy Training: English and Spanish • Business Development • Government Procurement • Veterans SBA loan assistance • Certification as a minority or women-owned enterprise • Social Media for Business • Sales Training • Webinar Training LOAN PRODUCTS • Loan Readiness Technical Assistance – preparing the business prior to loan application submittal • Development of a business plan that demonstrates to community lenders that the organization is credit worthy and a good investment • Assistance with preparing various Loan Packages (education, micro-lending, childcare facility, etc.)