Published October 2001

Women's biz center has growing list of clients, classes

By Kimberly Hilden
Herald Business Journal Assistant Editor

The Northwest Washington Women's Business Center only recently held a grand-opening celebration at its south Everett office, but the organization's services have been in demand since opening its doors in July, Director Kay Lasco said.

"We've served a little over 200 people since July 1," said Lasco, who, with Business Assistance Officer Rosa Cruz, serves five counties from Kitsap to Whatcom as well as the San Juan Islands.

The business center, which is part of Community Capital Development, was started through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The grant, awarded earlier this year, is for $150,000 a year for five years.

With the grant and the assistance of other agencies and local banks, the center's goal is to offer technical assistance and access to funding for women business owners looking to grow or start a business.

Such a program helps "people pursue that dream in a realistic fashion," Monika Edwards Harrison, Deputy for Entrepreneurial Development at the SBA, said during the Sept. 7 festivities at the center. Others in attendance included U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee; representatives from U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray's offices; Robert Meredith, SBA District Director in Seattle; and a number of officials from Community Capital Development.

"There are a lot of challenges" in starting a new business, Harrison said. "We give them the tools to overcome the most difficult hurdles."

Among those tools are business-plan counseling and topical seminars.

This month, the center will offer classes from its Financial Statement Series from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at the south Everett center, 728 134th St. SW, Suite 219, in the Quadrant I-5 Corporate Park. Classes cost $25 for each session. The schedule is:

• Oct. 2: Balance sheet/assets and liabilities
• Oct. 9: Breakeven analysis/personal financial statements/accounts receivable aging
• Oct. 16: Financial proposal development
• Oct. 23: Financial proposal development (continued)/"putting it all together"

The center also is offering a free class dealing with business expenses and the Internal Revenue Service from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 15. And free center orientations are held the first and third Thursday of each month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to reserve a class space, call 425-787-9856.

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