There are two mentoring programs - one for less experienced entrepreneurs and one for those who have been in business for over 10 years. Classes cover computers, government contracting, dealing with the Internal Revenue Service, FastTrac and more. The most recent additions are classes in finance, teaching clients how to prepare their cash-flow projections and finance their businesses. The WBC also collaborates on events and seminars with other agencies and organizations. Developed by the Kauffman Foundation, it was given to the center after its participation in the pilot.
Clients graduate with a business plan.
The Fort Worth WBC has a great working relationship with the SBA district office. The SBA staff is as much a part of the center as we are. Lavan Alexander, the SBA district director, is the keynote speaker at Project NEW graduations and admits he cries each time - and the ladies love him. In addition to the SBA, the Ft. Held on a regular basis, these meetings are set up like roundtable discussions to ascertain what type of loans each bank does or doesn't do, whether it works with the SBA, and what loan officers want from center clients.