The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida and SCORE Naples collaborate on revolving loans for women entrepreneurs
The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida is partnering with the SCORE Naples, counselors to small businesses, and Economic Development Investment Fund (EDIF) to offer women business owners in Collier County business counseling services and workshops in preparation to access to capital for their business start-up or expansion.
The mission of The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida is to raise money through federal and state grants, and relationships with individual and corporate donors, and employ a strategic grant-making model to fund programs and organizations that address the needs of women and girls in Southwest Florida.
Initially The Women’s Fund will strive to connect prospective clients in Collier County to capital through EDIF’s Rural Microenterprise Revolving Fund (RMAP). Women business owners and entrepreneurs inCollier County are currently eligible to apply. Loan amounts will range from $5,000 to $50,000, depending upon the needs and qualifications of applicants. As The Women’s Fund revolving loan fund increases, this program will also be offered to Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.
Women entrepreneurs in Collier County, aiming to boost their development and ongoing success by participating in this pilot loan program, are encouraged to contact the SCORE Naples chapter located at the Fifth Third Bank Building, 900 Goodlette Road North Naples.
“Our organization provides a wide range of business counseling services and training including guidance in preparing the loan application, which can enhance the success of loan procurement,” according to George Ahearn, Chairman of SCORE Naples.
According to the recent Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index Survey, 78 percent of Florida small businesses were not able to get financing.
“A cross-sector effort by financial institutions, The Women’s Fund, and other investors to establish a revolving loan fund will bring much needed access to capital to the women-owned businesses in our region. We believe women can be key players in recharging our region’s economy if their businesses are better positioned to flourish,” said Brenda Tate, President of The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida.
For more information about The Women’s Fund of Southwest Florida visit www.womensfundflorida.org. Follow The Women’s Fund online at facebook.com/floridawomen and on twitter.com/twfofswfl.
To improve your prospects for securing a loan, women entrepreneurs in Collier County should contact the SCORE Naples Office for business counseling services via their website at www.scorenaples.org or by calling 239-430-0081.
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