Welcome!Adams County Education Consortium Presentation

March, 21st 2007

MISSION:Micro Business Development

eliminates barriers to economic

independence for community

entrepreneurs, both youth and adults,

through access to markets, resources

and business capital.

PHILOSOPHY:

Access to capital alone, is not enough to take an entrepreneur from idea to independence.

Financial infusions must be coupled with relevant resources and market opportunities in order for

clients to create sustainable, income generating, job producing businesses.

MBD Offers:• Access to Markets

– Marketplaces, media, networking, education• Access to Resources

– Technology, consulting, skill development, referrals

• Access to Capital– Adult and Youth Lending from $10-$60,000

MBD’s Impact:• 2,100 jobs created, 5,800 jobs maintained

• 80% of all loan clients are still in business after 3 years

• 60% of clients have seen a significant (>20%) increase in personal income

• 50% of clients receiving public assistance have reduced or terminated their assistance

MBD returns $2-$3 to the community for every $1 invested!!!

Adams County SBI

• Numbers from the last 2 years– Provided training to 339 individuals– 24 new businesses– 31 new jobs– Approximately $200,000 lent– Classes offered monthly in English and

Spanish– Partners Identified

• Adams County Resident• Art and Framing• Services received:

– Access to Markets• Featured MBD Client Artist• Entrepreneurship Row

Participant • MBD First Friday Marketplace

– Access to Resources• MBA II

Rebecca RozalesArtistLimited Edition PrintsCustom Framing 3076 W. 54th Ave. Denver, CO 80221

Why Youth? Youth in High-risk Situations Typically:

• Do not have success in traditional educational channels

• Struggle to find and maintain meaningful employment

• Have an immediate need for income-generation

YouthWorks allows Colorado’s youth, ages 25 and under, to experience

entrepreneurship in a way that makes sense for their lifestyle,

providing the time, support, and resources they need

to meet their goals.

YouthWorks Provides:

• 1-on-1 Business Development Services

• Group-based entrepreneurial trainings

• Start-up $ to get youth businesses going

• Expert Advice and Business Mentoring

• Actual Marketplace Experience

YouthWorks Approach:

Step 1:Getting to know the youth –

• Vision• Life Barriers• Personal Goals• Business Concepts

• Step 2:Setting the SMART Goal -– Specific– Measurable – Actionable– Realistic – Timely

• Step 3: Planning –

• Mind Mapping the SMART Goal

The Experiential Learning Cycle

Plan

Download

Summarize

Action

• Single Mother of a 7 year old daughter

• Created Ultra Sound Magazine at age 19.

• Owns and operates Urban Bricks CreativeDesign, a freelance graphic design company

• Repaid a previous youth loan

• Current adult loan client

Celia HerreraAge: 25Owner: Urban Bricks

Creative Design

• Owns and operates Home-based

Recording Studio

• Attends Community College

of Denver

• Works a job between 20-30 hours a week

• Utilized Individual Development Account

to access equipment for business

launch

Terry Smith Age: 18Owner: T.Smith Productions

James Smith Age: 17Owner: B-loon’s Army

• Owns and operates mobile entertainment business

• Full-time high school student• Projecting $40,000+ in sales

for 2007

• Launched business at age 11

• Received $1,500 loan in 2006 for business insurance

• Repaid 2 previous youth loans

Session Summary: • Business owners of all ages need access to business capital AND

resources such as relevant training, expert advice, and market opportunities

• Youth microenterprise development programs must be flexible and adaptable to meet the varied needs and education levels of individual clients

• Curriculum must engage the ideas and talents of young people and be action-driven

• Learning is not enough. The key is to get youth to apply the learning

• Opportunity, not charity!

Questions, Concerns, Comments