Women’s Entrepreneurship Boot Camps

Discussion Paper

Background

Women’s entrepreneurship boot camps help women entrepreneurs create, sustain, or expand a business in Texas. Women-owned businesses support the Texas economy and increase employment opportunities for Texans.

Boot camps provide information and training on business-related topics, such as:

• best practices and methodologies;

• small business inception and growth;

• financial literacy;

• contracting opportunities;

• workforce training opportunities; and

• the export of products and services.

Entities eligible to offer boot camp information and training may include Local Workforce Development Boards (Boards), economic development corporations, institutes of higher education, nonprofit organizations and chambers of commerce.

Issue

Small businesses are vital to the continued growth of the Texas economy. Entrepreneurial activities create jobs and income. According to US census data, Texas has the second highest number of women-owned businesses in the country; however, the percentage of women-owned businesses in Texas remains below the national average. An opportunity exists to increase training and support specifically for women who are starting, sustaining, or expanding a business in Texas.

Decision Point

From Agency funds provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), an amount of $175,000 will be provided to entities willing to offer boot camp information and training. Three 12-month contracts would be awarded in three Texas regions (one contract per region), with a maximum single award of $58,333.

Approved boot camps would be required to implement an outreach and recruitment plan to encourage eligible women and women veterans to participate in the boot camp.

Outreach and recruitment efforts would include:

· following up on referrals from Boards;

· conducting a boot camp workshop lasting at least one day; and

· designing and providing training on topics such as best practices and methodologies that support small business inception and growth.

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