Fresno, CA – The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce (FMBCC) will be presented with a $15,000 small business development grant from Wells Fargo during its Fresno African American Community Exchange (FAACE) Breakfast taking place Wednesday, August 9 from 7:30 - 9:00 am. The grant presentation will occur at 8:45 a.m.
"FMBCC is committed to entrepreneurship as a pathway to prosperity for women and people of color,” said Tara Lynn Gray, FMBCC's Chief Executive Officer. “To that end we are establishing this Center to mobilize significant financial resources to advance the education and economic security of women entrepreneurs, especially women of color, low-income women and girls. We expect these resources will help them succeed as entrepreneurs: We are very pleased to have Wells Fargo's financial support for the Center."
The funds will help FMBCC establish Central Valley Women’s Economic Impact Center (CVWEIC) – the only women’s entrepreneurship support center between Sacramento and Los Angeles accessible to women business owners in the greater Fresno metropolitan area.
“It’s vital for women entrepreneurs to have a support network, and the tools and resources they need to succeed,” said Geri Yang-Johnson, Wells Fargo Community Relations Senior Consultant. “Starting a business can be intimidating and frightening. This center will offer women a space where they can obtain information and technical expertise to help their business become a reality and thrive.”
FMBCC’s Central Valley Women's Economic Impact Center will act as a gateway for women to gain access to capital, core technical expertise on business management, and build sales and marketing strategies to increase revenue. It will integrate FMBCC's successful Women Entrepreneurship Network signature events including Empowering Women of Color in Business Symposium and Get F.I.T. into one comprehensive program. CVWEIC will package training, assessments, one-on-one technical assistance, mentoring, pitch events, and the annual symposium with workshops, all targeting under-served women entrepreneurs
FMBCC expects to launch Central Valley Women’s Economic Impact Center on November 3, 2017, at its annual Empowering Women of Color in Business Symposium. About Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce is a locally-based membership organization with a global reach advancing the interests of the greater African-American community through the creation of opportunities, advocacy, and business & economic development. We envision an equitable, open and thriving, market without social, political, or economic barriers for all.
