Citi - The Citigroup Foundation and the Association for Enterprise Opportunity announced the expansion of the 2006 Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program.
Over 100 women microentrepreneurs will receive cash equity awards from $500 to $2,500 to help them grow and develop their businesses. Fifteen local microenterprise organizations from around the country have been selected to distribute the awards to women microentrepreneurs in their local communities.
Celebrations with local partners will be held in San Francisco, Austin, Philadelphia, Miami and New York City.
The Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program was launched in 2005 with a $110,000 grant from Citigroup Foundation. The program is designed to provide low- and moderate-income women microentrepreneurs the opportunity to achieve greater business success by providing cash awards that will have a measurable impact on the development of their business. In 2006, the Women and Company Microenterprise Boost Program will be supported by a $250,000 grant provided by the Citigroup Foundation.
Local partners will host events in the following cities:
Women's Opportunity Resource Center, Philadelphia, PA, March, 27
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, San Francisco, CA, March, 29
NYANA - New York, NY, March, 29
South Florida Urban Ministries, Inc., Miami, FL, March, 29
Business Investment Growth, Austin, Texas, April, 20
Recipients will receive technical training, business development guidance and assistance on growing their business and maximizing their equity award. The awards may be used for essential business development activities such as marketing, technology purchases, website development, inventory, or professional services.
The Association for Enterprise Opportunity, a national membership association for the microenterprise development industry, representing hundreds of microenterprise development programs across the country, manages the program. Women and Company, a division of Citigroup that provides access to financial education and resources for women, will work with AEO to implement and promote the program.
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Citibank & Foundation Donate Over $10 Million to California Nonprofits in 2005
To improve education, revitalize low and moderate income neighborhoods, encourage small business growth and more, Citibank and the Citigroup Foundation gave $10.7 million to 763 California nonprofits in 2005. In addition, employees from Citibank and other Citigroup affiliates in the state volunteered more than 30,000 hours in 2005.
Among the nonprofit organizations that benefited from Citigroup Foundation grants in 2005 are Los Angeles based Operation HOPE and Lenders for Community Development, based in San Jose. Organizations receiving donations from Citibank in California in 2005 included San Francisco-based BRIDGE Housing and the Asian Business Association of San Diego.
Citibank, CitiFinancial, Smith Barney and other Citigroup companies employ 11,200 Californians in offices throughout the state. With $1.5 trillion in assets at December 31, 2005, Citigroup is the largest financial services company in the U.S.
Get other Citi news and information, or browse for grants.
