April, 2009Watsonville, CA – The El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El PájaroCDC) along with its partners, is launching a new series of Spanish-language businessworkshops for small business owners and those who want to open a business. Thefirst series of workshops begins in May and will reoccur monthly through July.Business workshops in English are available through the SmallBusiness DevelopmentCenter at Cabrillo College.

These workshops are the kick off to the El Pájaro CDC’s BusinessEducation & Loan Program, an in-depth, twelve session course that teachesthe basics of business planning, ownership and management. The twelve session coursewill be presented in both English and Spanish and offered in several locationsin the Monterey Bay area. The workshop series and twelvesession course are open to any Monterey and Santa Cruz county resident whowould like to improve a business or open one for the first time. Graduates oftwelve session course may be eligible to apply for a low interest micro-loan($500-$5000). The concept of micro-credit developed by Nobel Prize winningeconomist Muhammad Yunus as a way to promote economic stability amongentrepreneurs whose face barriers to traditional credit sources.

“At El Pájaro CDC we believe in the possibilityof transforming people’s lives through entrepreneurship. We want to supportcurrent and aspiring small business owners by providing business education andfinancing opportunities as a tool for success in this challenging businessenvironment” says El Pajaro CDC’s Executive Director Carmen Herrera-Mansir.

Individuals who wish to participate in theseries of business workshops can sign up by calling El Pájaro CDC. A completelist of workshops and locations can be found on their website, www.elpajarocdc.org .The cost of the workshopsis $15 for individual workshops or three for $35.00. Scholarships areavailable.

El Pájaro CDC is a non-profit organizationfounded in 1978 its mission is to “promote equal access to economic opportunity”and is located at Plaza Vigil in downtown Watsonville.

To reserve a spot in one of the series ofbusiness workshops contact the El Pájaro CDC at (831) 722-1224.  For more information on El Pájaro CDC visitthe website at www.elpajarocdc.org. Thisprogram is being sponsored by The City of Watsonville, the National RuralFunders Collaborative, Comerica Bank, the Appleton Foundation and the Women’sfund of Monterey County.