Delaware Business Blog

First State Community Action Agency- Entrepreneur Resource Center

Ever heard of the First State Community Action Agency?
The FSCAA helps businesses and entrepreneurs in all three counties in Delaware.
Formerly known as the Sussex County Community Action Agency, the organization has been around for about 40 years, “helping people build community”. They focus their efforts on providing assistance to minority and women owned businesses and also offer an innovative mentoring program called Youth Entrepreneurs in Action (YEA).

Mission:

To work towards the elimination of the root causes of poverty and to make less severe the effects of poverty on low-income people by providing a range of services and activities that have a measurable and potentially major impact on overall community welfare.

One of the services I’d like to highlight for you today is the Entrepreneur Resource Center.
The ERC’s goal is to assist in the development and expansion of minority owned, women owned, youth and socially disadvantaged businesses and communities.

There are several different programs offered through the ERC, and each one is designed to equip participants with the ability to:

    Develop and expand a business

    Address issues and opportunities that mobilize broad community support

    Make creative use of all available resources

    Inspire potential community support and participation

    Take greater control and responsibility for activities in their own and surrounding communities.

Here is what you can expect from the ERC program:

Comprehensive Business Training and Development

  • Access to capital/financial budgeting
  • Business plans
  • Business structure
  • Workshops
  • Networking opportunities
  • Strategic marketing plans

    Individual Development Account Program

  • Savings plans
  • Asset Oriented workshops
  • Economic literacy training

    Women in Business

  • Career Closet clothing store
  • Health and Wellness program
  • Positive image training
  • Teen girl mentorship program
  • Workshops

    Youth Entrepreneurs in Action (YEA)

  • Lifestyle skill building tools
  • Incentives
  • Leadership and positive decision making training
  • If you are interested in starting a new business, expanding an existing business or if you want more information on meetings and workshops in your area, please call (302) 856-7761 and ask for Brenda Whitehurst.

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