Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) Revenue and Competitors

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) fosters the start and growth of small businesses with training, loans, and consulting for Santa Barbara and Ventura County residents. WEV's mission is to create an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. WEV’s Women's Business Center (WBC) proudly offers the Self-Employment Training (SET) program, a 14-week course providing week-by-week training in the most important aspects of organizing, financing, marketing and managing a small business. Participants leave the course with a complete business plan including a business description, marketing plan, cash flow projections, operations plan, and a core network to help sustain the business. The WEV Loan Program was established by Women’s Economic Ventures in 1995 with a Grant of $75,000 from the City of Santa Barbara and $225,000 in matching funds from seven local banks (Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Montecito Bank & Trust, Northern Trust, Mid-State Bank, Community West Bank, City Commerce Bank, and California Thrift & Loan). The goal of the Loan Program is to diversify and expand the local economy and create new jobs by providing start-up and expansion capital to small businesses that do not qualify for conventional bank financing. WEV loans are targeted to low and moderate income men and women, minorities and others who have been traditionally underserved by lenders. Thrive in Five®, WEV’s consulting program, provides long-term, individualized training, consulting and coaching for entrepreneurs who have already written a business plan and launched their business, but need assistance with stabilizing and/or growing their companies. In the last five years, WEV-assisted businesses have created an estimated total 1,145 new jobs in the community, sustained an additional 1,407 existing jobs and generated an estimated $6.6 million in tax revenues for the state and local economy.