Watsonville, CA, January 15, 2010:  El Pájaro Community Development Corporation is announcing the upcoming Women’s Business Education and Loan Program for the Monterey Bay area. 

The 13-week course is scheduled to start on February 15, 2010. 

“At El Pájaro CDC we believe in the possibility of transforming people’s lives through entrepreneurship.  We support current and aspiring small business owners by providing technical assistance and financing opportunities as tools for success in this challenging business environment,” says El Pájaro CDC’s Executive Director Carmen Herrera-Mánsir.  A targeted component of the 13-week course is developing a comprehensive business plan to act as a road map for start-up and future growth.  A business plan dissects every aspect of being in business. Students learn to set realistic goals, predict cash flow, establish a budget and clearly identify their market.

 The course starts with an orientation session of the WBELP course and El Pájaro CDC.  It is followed by thirteen in-depth weekly sessions. The sessions are presented in English or Spanish at several locations throughout the Monterey Bay area.  Graduates of the course are eligible to apply for a low interest micro-loan ranging from $500 to $5,000.  

Multiple orientation sessions will be held in Watsonville and Salinas. The first orientation sessions in Watsonville will be held at the Watsonville Adult School at 320 Rodriguez Street on Wednesday, January 20, 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 6:00-8:30 p.m.  The first orientation sessions in Salinas will be held at the Salinas Adult School at 20 Sherwood Place on Tuesday, January 19, 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 6:00-8:15 p.m.

 Individuals who wish to attend an orientation session for the WBELP course can sign up by calling El Pájaro CDC at (831) 722-1224 or sending an e-mail to info@elpajarocdc.org. 

El Pájaro CDC is a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to promote micro-enterprise and small business development by supporting low-income and minority entrepreneurs in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties. For more information about El Pájaro CDC, visit www.elpajarocdc.org. 

 This program is sponsored by: Appleton foundation, City of Watsonville, The Women’s Fund of Monterey County, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, El Pájaro Community Development Corporation, The National Rural Funders Collaborative, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, First Capital Bank, The Watsonville Aptos Adult Education and Salinas Adult School.