FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      
Contact: Claudia Medina, ACOE Communications, 510-670-4147

ACOE IN-KIND SPONSOR FOR WOMEN’S INITIATIVE
SPANISH-LANGUAGE BUSINESS TRAINING CLASSES

Supporting low-income women to increase earnings potential and self-sufficiency

Hayward, July 21, 2009—The Alameda County Office of Education will host Women’s Initiative for Self Employment’s Spanish language Simple Steps business training classes in Hayward starting today July 21, 2009.  The 11-week training course is designed especially for low-income Latinas who have a dream of owning their own business and becoming financially self-sufficient.

During the Simple Steps classes, women will learn:  how to write a business plan, analyze competition, price their product or service, keep accurate records and manage finances, how to promote their business as well as how to tackle barriers to self-sufficiency.  At the end of the course, women will graduate with a written business plan in hand and have access to funding and ongoing support. 

“At ACOE we are committed to improving the quality of education for all children. We are pleased to partner with Women’s Initiative to provide educational and business-training opportunities for women and their children.” said Sheila Jordan, Superintendent of Alameda County Schools. “We look forward to our collaboration, and believe ACOE’s parent program Project INSPIRE is in perfect alignment with the goals of Women’s Initiative to succeed in the challenge of integrating business and life.”

To qualify for the class, women must be lower-income (annual household income of no more than $39,600 for a single-person household).  Classes are held from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 21, 2009 at the Alameda County Office of Education, 313 Winton Avenue in Hayward.  For more information about the Simple Steps business training class in Hayward, contact:  415-308-8652

About Women’s Initiative
Women’s Initiative is the nation’s largest microenterprise training organization and is widely regarded as a leader in the field of microenterprise training. For more than 20 years, Women’s Initiative has been providing low-income women throughout the Bay Area with business training and ongoing support in addition to access to capital.  Our unique program propels low-income women into business ownership, and more importantly, tackles barriers to self-sufficiency. In English and in Spanish, women conquer their fears of success, complete a business plan, learn technology, access capital, and meet influential and experienced business people who can help them succeed.  Average income more than doubles four years after participation in the Women’s Initiative program and 71% of their business owners are making steady sales five years down the road.  For more information, please contact 415-308-8652.

About Project INSPIRE
ACOE’s project INSPIRE provides training and resources to assist parents, educators, and service providers as they build partnership to help children prepare for and succeed in school. Community partnership fosters greater accountability to parents by helping them become active participants in their children’s education. Involved and informed parents have a profound impact on the education and life-long success of their children. For more information, please contact Peggy Morrison, 510-670-4570.
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