Major Core Programs

Small Business Technical Assistance & Lending Program
Entrepreneurs are provided with services such as one-on-one technical assistance in business plan development, educational business workshops; obtain business licenses and certifications and access to direct loan capital for a start up or expansion of a business. The focus is on low/moderate income (LMI) entrepreneurs that do not qualify for bank financing, or businesses that create jobs for LMI

Small Business Incubator (SBI)
The virtual incubator is a concept that provides quasi office space for on site technical assistance for start up businesses. The "desk tenants" as clients are called have access to staff support and computers to help them set up their bookkeeping and payroll, review contracts, etc.


Center for Rural Enterprises (Center) formerly Center for Latino Farmers
The demand for technical assistance and loans by Latino farmers helped create the Center in late 2001. The Center helps empower socially disadvantaged farmers/ranchers by providing educational workshops and information on how to access USDA programs available for all farmers. The special focus is with limited English speaking farm workers in their transition from farmworkers to farm owners. 

Youth Financial Fitness & Leadership Program (YFF)
The need for financial literacy for young people prompted the need to create this program which empowers and educates high school students in all aspects of financial literacy through participation in a 5 week (8 hrs per week) of evening classes, 8 weeks (10 hrs per week) as an intern with a private or government entity, whereby they are provided a $72 stipend per week. The experience will hopefully lead to career exposure and possible summer employment