Camarillo, CA - Some entrepreneurs had been working in somebody else’s landscaping business or hair salon and wanted to strike out on their own. Others had been providing child day care and wanted to expand their services. And some had creative ideas for restaurants, food trucks or themed mobile tea parties for kids.  

These were some of the 45 business plans chosen for $7,500 microgrants through Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) Emprendimiento Program, a program developed to provide training and access to funding for Hispanic entrepreneurs who have limited English proficiency. The program is run in partnership with CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI).

“Some of these entrepreneurs don’t have a high school degree, so it’s a beautiful thing to help them become a part of the formal economy, whereas they might have never gotten a loan from a bank,” said Associate Professor of Business Maria Ballesteros-Sola, who coordinates the program at CSUCI. “With this program, not only can you get started with your own business, but you also have a mentor you can call.”

Entrepreneurs who qualify for the program get eight weeks of free training from WEV to help them learn business operations, finance, marketing and how to maximize the social impact their business will have. After completing the course, the entrepreneurs can draw up a business plan and apply for a $7,500 microgrant. The funding comes from the state of California’s Employment Training Panel’s (ETP), Social Entrepreneurs for Economic Development (SEED) initiative.

“Being a business owner is already a big challenge for anybody,” said WEV Bilingual Program Officer Berenize Ayala, who manages the program for WEV. “It’s a lot of work and on top of this, if you add not knowing English well, it adds another barrier. This program gives them the training they need. It’s a combination of great information and funding at the end.”

The grants will be formally awarded to the 45 entrepreneurs - primarily women, but some men also - during a ceremony set for Monday, Aug. 23 in Camarillo.

Since the program began in 2021, 330 people have participated in WEV’s Emprendimiento Program and 261 have graduated. With the August 2023 Grant Awards Ceremony, $937,500 in microgrants will have been awarded to entrepreneurs in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.  

Last year, WEV approached CSUCI with the opportunity to get involved and Ballesteros-Sola enthusiastically agreed, calling on students in CI Solutions to participate. CI Solutions is a student-run agency in which businesses?and non-profits get help with strategy, marketing or operations.  

The applicants’ business plans are submitted anonymously, and CI Solutions students score them and assist with WEV’s eight-week training program.  

Class of 2022 CSUCI graduate Crystal Lopez enjoyed her experience with WEV so much that she now works for WEV part-time supporting the Emprendimiento Program as a teaching assistant.  

“I witnessed firsthand the transformative impact the organization has on women's personal and professional lives,” Lopez said. “I am proud to be a part of the WEV community and ecosystem. It fills me with pride and reinforces my commitment to empowering women on their entrepreneurial journeys."

For more on the Emprendimiento Program, visit: www.wevonline.org/es/classes-resources/emprendimiento/.