Page 6 - MidWeek Windward - Oct 13, 2021

6 OCTOBER 13, 2021
Wells Fargo’s ‘Open for Business’ Grant Allows For New Classes At YWCA O‘ahu
FROM PAGE 1
“Our team knew that we hadtofindawaytohelpour small-business community to keep their doors open, maintain their employees and grow. We reviewed our clients’ needs and came up with an innovative strategy that included collaboration, withafocusonSmallBusi- ness Recovery and Work- force Development,” says Terri Funakoshi, chief op- erating officer.
small-business owners or nonprofit partners:
an-owned small businesses. • Open for Business Workshop Series: a six- week course that teaches leadership development and core fundamentals of running an online business. It culminates in an online showcase that will feature the small-business owner/ entrepreneur’s story and
grant was a lifesaver during achallengingandunprece- dented year.
• Launch My E-com- merce: a seven-week course that explores key principles of growth and expansion through small-business training on the creation of an e-commerce website. It culminates with the entre- preneur’s products featured on a multi-vendor market- place and is ideal for prod- uct-based small business owners and entrepreneurs.
products.
“With support from the
Open For Business fund, YWCA O‘ahu will be able
The program features a unique collaboration among YWCA O‘ahu pro- grams: Dress for Success Honolulu, the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership (MCBL), the Minority Business De- velopment Agency’s En- terprising Women of Color Business Center (EWOC) and community partners, Business Law Corps (BLC) and Mana Up Hawai‘i.
In August, YWCA O‘ahu was awarded its full re- quest of $1.5 million from Wells Fargo, and part of those funds will go to host- ing classes at labs at YW- CA’s Kokokahi location in Kāne‘ohe.
“We believe that in addi- tion to our program strate- gy, YWCA O‘ahu’s deep roots in the community, large network of support, nurturing environment, and ability to reach the smallest of small businesses, espe- cially those who are mar- ginalized were key factors in Wells Fargo’s decision to give us this grant,” says Funakoshi.
• Skill-up My E-com- merce: a four-week course where small-business em- ployees learn technical skills focused on e-commerce cus- tomer service, product mar- keting and online fulfillment training culminating with a certificate of completion.
to help more local small businesses recover and grow through free educa- tional workshops, technical assistance, and hands-on e-commerce labs as well as mentoring and coaching to help resilient entrepreneurs emerge from the pandemic even stronger than before,” says Funakoshi.
(Top) The Open for Business program will provide free classes to small business owners. (Inset, from left) Noriko Namiki CEO of YWCA O‘ahu, and Jodi Chang of Wells Fargo untie the maile lei at the blessing. (Above) The launch event featured a blessingbykahuBruceAhLeong(seated).PHOTOSCOURTESYYWCAO‘AHU
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The grant’s allowed YWCA O‘ahu to open four free programs taught by
• Business Certification Workshop Series: Learn how to get your business certified for key contracts available for women-owned, minority-owned and veter-
For more information on Open for Business pro- grams and services, visit ywcaoahu.org.