Program areas at El Centro
Empoderate NOLA is a series of biweekly workshops and individual coaching sessions where we explain how to start and register a business, obtain a business license and permits, strategic planning and marketing, accounting, how to access commercial capital, personal credit and financial counseling for home buying, saving, and debt management. In addition to this workshop topics include how to avoid scams and report fraud, the importance of banking, filing personal taxes etc. El Centro provided 250+personalized coaching appointments to customers and hosted 61 workshops with 2367 in person participants, 2609 views since all workshops are broadcast via Facebook and reached 16239 people online.El Centro responded to 483 phone requests for information throughout the year.
Las Musas is a monthly workshop to empower and support women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. The objective is to build a network of entrepreneurial women who support one another. This program provides information and access to resources from partner organizations, encourages women to pursue their dreams, and to educate them in current trends affecting businesses. The program served 83 women. Who recevied 9 workshops totalling 22 hours.
Camino Financiero (Financial Road Map): 8 week Cohort Style Program that educates clients in understanding credit, credit scores, and debt management and repayment strategies. Also provides basics to personal budgeting and building savings. The program also pairs attendees with 2+ personalized financial coaching appointments. There were 183 workshop attendees, 43 unduplicated program participants they participated in more than 4 - 2.5 hour workshops and received more than 100 hours of technical assistance through individual appointments.
Impulsate is a 6 week accelerator program for established entrepreneurs seeking to grow or scale their construction or janitorial business. Attendees learn how to formalize their business legally, attract customers and create a digital presence, provide a bid or estimate, gain an overview of legal and inusrance requirements, cash flow management principles, hring basics and the benefits of obtaining government validated certifications. 54 participated in the program 38 coaching appointments were provided for a total of 76 hours
VITA Latinx: El Centro is the only Latinx focused Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Service (VITA) Site within 90 miles of the Greater New Orleans Area, 99% of site customers are Spanish speakers. In 2022 El Centro electronically filed 102 returns, obtaining more than $189,000 in refunds for individuals whose income fell below $58, 000.
Other programs including:Incubator management and support of incubator tenants. Provided technical assistance up to 2 hours of technical assistance to 3 incubator tenants for a total of 60 hours. Como Iniciar una Empresa is a monthly workshop hosted in partnership with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center about How to Start a Business. In this workshop Attendees can determine the feasibility of their business idea, learn about planning, steps to registering and licensing the business and common entrepreneurial pitfalls. 4 workshops have been hosted, 67 have attended.