House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #353 Women's Business Center of Northwest Florida
Requester:	Kathryn Cariglino		Organization:		Women's Business Assistance Center, Inc.
Project Title:	Women's Business Center of Northwest Florida		Date Submitted:		01/10/2000 11:50:17 AM
District Member:	Dee Dee Ritchie		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Washington
Recipient:	Women's Business Center of Northwest Florida		Contact:		Martha Cobb
	6235 N. Davis Hwy. Suite 111 B		Contact Phone:		(850) 484-2765
	Pensacola 32504
Project Description:
The Women?s Business Center of Northwest Florida (WBC) serves practicing and potential women business owners, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged women. The WBC, located in Pensacola, serves the most populous counties in the Panhandle, which include Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa. Military bases, such as Eglin Air Force Base and Pensacola Naval Air Station, bring many military spouses and retirees to the area. As a result, the WBC targets these two demographic segments of the population, especially focusing on women retiring from the military who are considering business ownership as a second career. The WBC, which was established in July of 1999, is a project of the Women?s Business Assistance Center, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. The WBC is the only member of the U.S. Small Business Administration?s network of Women?s Business Centers in the state of Florida. Nationwide promotion by SBA of this program generates inquiries into our Center on a daily basis from women all over the State of Florida. The WBC serves these women by means of email and telephone counseling and referral services. This project is funded in part by Cooperative Agreement SBAHQ-99-W-0017 with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Corporations and private entities in the Panhandle area are providing matching funds for this project. The requested amount from the state budget will account for only 10 per cent of the first year?s annual budget, and provide seed money for securing more local funding in the later years.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
Because this project receives federal funding, all services are open to the general public. Confidential counseling services are offered at no charge. Training programs covering all aspects of business ownership and operation are offered at minimal costs. Scholarships are available to offset the cost of training for socially and economically disadvantaged. Mentoring relationships, both one-on-one and in groups, are facilitated by the formation of Success Circles for women business owners. Through these relationships, women will build a network of business referrals and contacts, as well as a network of experts to assist them in the operation of their business. Video-conferencing programs will allow training programs to achieve a much wider distribution than is possible with traditional training programs. In addition to training, counseling, mentoring, and video-conferencing, the WBC will expand its service in the third year to provide circuit-rider training in the Fort Walton Beach area. Counseling services are available state wide by telephone and email.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Measurable Outcome Anticipated: Training women in the skills necessary to own their own businesses help them reach self-sufficiency. These women then begin to contribute to the economy in the form of taxes. Their families enjoy a better standard of living. The state will benefit through a reduction in the number of women and their children on public assistance. PROJECTED MILESTONES -- Training and Orientation Services Service Type #Sessions # Hours # of Attendees Orientation* Group Sessions 4 4 50 Individual Sessions0 0 0 Training Basic Training ? (10 meetings per session) 2 70 20 Advanced Training 6 12 160 Financial Assistance 1 3 30 Government Procurement 1 4 30 Management Assistance 1 3 30 Marketing Assistance 1 3 30 Other: Internet 6 12 30 Misc 5 10 70 Economic Impact Goals Type of Goal Number New Businesses Started 6 Existing Businesses Expanded 2 Jobs Created 12 Other Services Service Type # Sessions # HoursTotal # Clients Counseling Group Sessions 9 18 24 Individual Sessions 150 225 75 Mentoring Group Sessions 10 10 74 Individual Sessions 0 0 0 Networking Events 15 4 80 Conferences 1 4 50
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$20,000
Total cost of the project:		$225,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?						Yes
	Cash Amount:	$167,500		In-Kind Amount:		$37,500
Was this project previously funded by the State?						No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?						Yes
	Amount:	$20,000
	Purpose for future year funding:				Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?					Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?						No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?						No
Is there a documented need for this project?						Yes
	Documentation:	Federal Women's Business Ownership Act of 1999
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?						No