Our Programs
SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES:
Women's Business Center
Business Start-Up Learning Circles, Women's Leadership Circles, Women's Business Accelerator, Business Consulting, and Seminars
Business Start-Up Learning Circles
Learn how to turn your business idea into a reality through our 10-week training program
Business Consulting
Our business coaches provide 1-on-1 consulting an mentoring for entrepreneurs facing challenges as they seek to launch and grow their businesses
Seminars
Regular seminar topics include: Social Media Marketing, Export Assistance, Government Contracting, Legal Issues for Business, and Find Your Funding
Lending Circles
Small loans of $600-$5,000 for your business. Focus on improving your credit, improving management practices, and setting yourself to access larger loans for future business growth.
LEARNING CIRCLES
ASSETS has created Learning Circles to provide business development courses for entrepreneurs in the Lancaster area. This unique program, compiled of 2 separate stages, offers an interactive and conversational way for a group of aspiring entrepreneurs to learn and work through the early stages of the business planning process, while creating the types of positive relationships and networking which is essential for entrepreneurs. Upon completion, participants will leave with an externally-critiqued business plan, an outline for community impact, and an understanding of what their next steps should be.
LENDING CIRCLES
ASSETS has a unique lending program for micro-entrepreneurs that provides access to capital and business technical assistance services while establishing or improving credit history. Our Lending Circles are made up of entrepreneurs who need financial services and are willing to work together to make that happen. These circles serve as the gateway to several benefits: access to a lump sum of money, a way to establish or improve your credit score, peer group support, monthly business workshops and individual technical assistance, and access to larger loans from ASSETS or other financial institutions. Together with like-minded business owners, you decide what topics will be covered in group workshops. With your lender, you will develop a credit-building action plan and turn knowledge into action, learning how to make real improvements in your credit rating.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
At ASSETS, we are aware that lack of economic opportunity is a primary cause of many social issues. With this in mind, we believe that market-based solutions with a clear focus on specific societal problems work from the inside-out to positively impact these issues. Additionally, while charity dollars are always limited, consumer dollars have created infinite possibilities for growth and scale. This is not to say that the charity-model is unnecessary, at ASSETS Lancaster, we use donor dollars to subsidize a majority of our educational and lending programs because they would otherwise be too expensive for our target market to access. However, we do strongly believe in creating space for Social Enterprise as a “3rd way” to operate, outside of traditional for-profit/non-profit structures. Our involvement in social enterprise is meant to catalyze excitement and innovation around business ideas which help address some of the stark social and economic problems present in our community.
THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER
The Women’s Business Center at ASSETS is developed in partnership with the Small Business Administration. The WBC assists small business owners who are starting or expanding their small business. While extra consideration is given to specific challenges and issues for women entrepreneurs, our programs serve all – women, men, and racial and ethnic minorities.
The expert coaches and trainers at the Women’s Business Center provide valuable resources to help ensure business success. Programs and services are available in Spanish. Visit our website to learn more about the Women's Business Center and its program offerings.
