$1 million loan pool for businesses on Milwaukee's north side to seek women, minority entrepreneurs - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Posted: 12 Jul 2019 11:25 AM PDT

Startups and small businesses near Milwaukee's 35th Street corridor will now be able to apply for a loan thanks to the $1 million loan pool established by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.'s Capital Catalyst program at the Northwest Side Community Development Center.

Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announced the partnership at a news conference Friday, where he also noted priority will go to minority- and women-owned businesses in the local business clusters of energy and power, food and beverage, and water technology.

Barnes said it's important to focus on small-business owners who struggle to obtain a conventional loan because they bring a diversity of ownership and ideas to the business market.

Having grown up near the development center's headquarters on 4201 N. 27th St., Barnes said the need for entrepreneurship in that area spoke for itself.

"People have a lot of good ideas but don't have the economic base to help them prosper," he said

This $1 million loan pool aims to do just that.

WEDC provided the center with a $500,000 grant, which the development center matched to create the $1 million loan pool.

Howard Snyder, the executive director of the development center, said the loan pool represents the first time the center has set aside funds specifically for early businesses and startups in that area.

He said the loan pool is an opportunity to invest in the residents and entrepreneurs of his community.

"We've been doing the best that we can with what we have," he said. "A lot of people think we need to do more with less. There are ways to be innovative with less resources, but don't kid yourself ... we can do less."

"But today, we can do more," he said. "Today, we get a chance to wealth-build."

Willie Smith, the director of lending, said the center is looking to provide seven loans of up to $200,000.

He consults with clients to assess whether they need a loan or more technical business assistance.

"Not everybody is ready," he said. "We work to help get them there."

The center works with the African American Chamber of Commerce, several banks and other groups to connect business owners with the resources that suit their needs.

"We now have a lot of space and potential to build something new," state Rep. David Bowen said. "I'm just happy that we are able to make a huge transition and open up some resources for smaller firms."

If you are interested in applying for a loan from this loan pool, contact Willie Smith, NWSCDC director of lending, at (414) 444-8200, ext. 8105.

Contact Talis Shelbourne at (414) 223-5261 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and Facebook at @talisseer.

Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today and get a special offer at jsonline.com/deal.

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55 lucrative business ideas for women - Briefly.co.za

Posted: 24 Jun 2019 12:00 AM PDT

Over the years, women have shown very great potential in entrepreneurship. They have established and taken their positions in the business world. Every single day is an opportunity for them to come up with something new and unique. Their quest for coming up with newer and better ventures is the reason behind these profitable business ideas for women.

Image: pixabay.com
Source: UGC

The increased levels of unemployment in South Africa have prompted the citizens to invest in their creativity and make sure that they come up with remunerative ideas that they can implement and raise money out of. Some of these have turned out to be the best income generating sources. Regardless of your schedule or amount of capital, there is a venture that you could try out and it will work for you. The only trick to succeeding is ensuring that you come up with the best strategy and you will make the best out of these business ideas for women.

Home based business ideas

Are you wondering whether there are any options on how to start your own business with no money? If that is the case, there are several options that you can try out and make money out of with little or no capital. These are some of the home business ideas with low startup costs or no startup cost;

Top home based business ideas

Are you looking for recommendations on small business ideas from home? This list of options are some of the best that you could implement and make the most out of;

1. Bakery business

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Source: UGC

Did you know that you could run this venture at the comfort of your home, especially if you are good at baking? This is one of the most lucrative ventures to try out while at home.

2. Candy making

You could also venture in candy making and earn out of it. Candy making is one of the most straight-forward ideas.

3. Restaurant business

Being in this venture does not mean that you should start an actual restaurant. You could make good use of your cooking skills by preparing food at home and delivering it to the specific places at a fee. This venture is a steal, especially since you get paid for the delivery services as well as the cost of the food.

4. Smoothie making business

Just like running a bakery business at home, you could equally make smoothies while at home and sell them at a profit. To diversify your venture, you could offer delivery services.

Work from home ideas

As a business woman, you could make money without having to leave your house all the time. These are some of the ventures that you could try out

5. Cooking training business

If you are good at cooking, you could make money out of training people. This is another idea that perfectly suits stay at home mums.

6. Poultry keeping business

Poultry keeping is one of the most profitable business. It does not necessarily require any qualification, but the basic knowledge. All you require is a set aside place in your home where you will rear the poultry and when they're mature, you could sell them at a profit.

7. Beekeeping

Are you located in the areas that have the potential of supporting beekeeping in South Africa? You could try out beekeeping and earn yourself some good money. All it takes is conducting an extensive background check on the viability of the venture in the area where you are situated.

8. Daycare business

Turning your home into a daycare is a lucrative business idea for a stay at home mum. It does not require any special expertise but a liking for young children.

9. Home tutoring

Are you a stay at home mum with a successful educational background? If so, you could turn your academic qualifications into a lucrative venture. You could offer tutoring services at your home. You could turn your home into a tutoring centre and invite the kids over for classes at a fee.

10. Bookshop

As a stay at home mum, you could start your bookshop right in your house. You could sell books and stationery as you accumulate the funds to expand your venture.

Creative small business ideas

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Source: UGC

You do not have to go round looking for new business ideas when you have these options to choose from;

11. Tailoring

If you are good at coming up with the best designs and sewing them, you could tap onto the opportunity that the fashion industry has created. You could build your brand out of your creativity. Consistency is key in this venture. Another thing that makes this venture more viable is the fact that you could do it at the comfort of your home.

13. Card making

If you are a creative stay at home mum, you could utilize your skill to make greeting cared and sell them at a profit.

14. Doll making

Stay at home mums could also make good use of the time that they have to engage in profitable ventures like making dolls. These dolls could be made out of fabric and turn out to be unique.

15. Jewellery business

You could also run a jewellery business. You could buy silver and gold jewellery in bulk and sell them at a profit, while at home. You could also make beaded jewellery and sell them.

16. Bag making

As a stay at home mum, you could make a dime out of bag making. The secret to this venture is ensuring that you make quality and unique products and with no time, you will establish your brand.

17. Hat making

If you are after a business that could generate some few coins without being too demanding, you could venture into hat making. This venture is not pinned down to stay at home mums alone. You could also create some extra time to make a few more coins.

18. Shoemaking business

The demand for shoes will always be there. You could procure the required pieces of equipment and with the right training make shoes that you could sell at a profit.

19. Crotchet knitting

This is one of the most lucrative business opportunity, especially since the demand for crotchet pieces keeps on growing gradually. You could make good use of your ability to knit to earn a fortune.

Innovative business ideas

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Source: UGC

Innovation as brought the need for newer and more profitable entrepreneur ideas. These are some of the options that you could implement;

20. Web design

If you have the basic knowledge on HTML coding, copyrighting and graphic design, you could make money out of designing websites. This is one of the most viable business ideas for students.

21. Graphic design

If you are good at graphics design, you could implement your knowledge and earn out of it. This is another feasible business ideas for students.

22. Consignment business

There is an increase in the rate at which people buy goods online. You could make good out of the opportunity that exists between the buyer and the seller, and offer delivery services at a fee. For a student, this is another start up business idea to check out.

23. Matchmaking business

This is one of the remunerative ideas that you could into use at the comfort of your home. It involves hooking people up. all you need to have is the internet.

24. Becoming a travel agent

If you love travelling, you could turn it into a lucrative business. You could become a travel agent and watch your brand grow.

Online business ideas

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Source: UGC

Access to the internet is a bridge to so many opportunities. These are some of the most successful businesses to start in this category;

25. Content creating

With the increase in the number of websites, there is a constant demand for content creation. You could make good use of your creativity to come up with content for websites and earn out of it. This is one of the most profitable start up business ideas to try out.

26. Editing business

Besides freelance content creation, one could also work as an editor. You do not need an office to do a thing. You could work while at home.

27. Affiliate marketing

If you feel that you are not so good at creative content creation, you could also try out affiliate marketing. All you need for this venture is access to the internet.

28. Blogging

You could also make some good money out of blogging. All you need is access to the internet and you will be good to go. The best part about this venture is that it is versatile, so you could major in the areas that you are interested in; for instance; you could do a food blog or a fashion blog. Another thing that makes this venture a plus is a fact that you could collaborate with brands and end u making more money than what you would have made being employed.

29. E-book writing

If you are gifted at creative writing, you could earn some few coins out of it. You could write books and sell them online. You do not want to think twice about the opportunity that this venture as posed among the business ideas to start.

Other profitable business ideas

Image: pexels.com
Source: UGC

Besides the categories mentioned above, you could check out this list of business ideas;

30. Translating business

You could work as a translator in the areas that might require your expertise. All you need to do is ensure is that you are conversant with particular languages. You do not always have to be good at languages like French, German and Spanish alone, you could also be a translator of the country's local dialect and still earn a fortune.

31. Landscape designing

If you are trained for landscape design, you do not need to report to an office every day. You could turn your house into your office and do your thing.

32. Interior decoration

This is one of the businesses that are not so difficult to start and run. All you need to have is a good fashion sense. It is also not pinned down to the stay at home mums alone. Employed people can also try it out.

33. Forex trading business

The notion about forex market being a men's thing is not true. Women too can venture in this market and make good returns out of it. All you need to do is ensure that you are good at market analysis.

34. Tax consulting

If you have the basic knowledge of accounting or are a certified accountant, you could open a consulting firm at your home and offer services at a fee.

35. Form filing and data entry

You could offer data entry services while at home.

36. Job bureau

This is a lucrative business idea since it involves hooking employers with employees. This is one of the ventures that never run out of business.

37. Life coaching

In the world of counsellors and mentors, you could position yourself as a life coach and offer advice on particular issues challenging specific groups of people. You could offer your services at a fee.

38. Public speaking

If you are good at public speaking, you could try out this venture. You could make a fortune out of your eloquence and ability to play around with words.

39. Events decorator

If you are good at decoration, you could become an events decorator and offer your service at a fee.

40. Party planning

Party planning is another idea that you could make money from. You could offer event planning services, and with time grow your brand to become an event manager.

41. Photography

Image: pexels.com
Source: UGC

If you enjoy taking photographs, you could turn into a venture and earn out of it. This is one of the ventures that require a minimum investment cost and expand with time.

42. Music business

If you are good at singing, you could get into the music business. The industry has the potential of completely turning your life around.

43. DJ business

The stereotype that being a disk jockey is a male kind of thing is not true. Women too can try it out and make good returns out of it.

44. Makeup Artistry

The makeup industry is one of the fastest growing ventures. You could tap into that opportunity, especially if you are good at doing makeup. You could offer the service at a fee. This is one of the most successful ventures to start.

45. Skin care products business

This is another remunerative venture that you could try out. It involves selling skin care products to clients. You could offer online services to increase your market size.

46. Toy store

The demand for toys is also consistent. You could open a toy store and sell them at a profit. The main hack in this venture is ensuring that you have a supply of some of the most unique toys.

47. Fashion store

You could also run your fashion store online and make the most out of it.

48. Salon business

Image: pexels.com
Source: UGC

If you are good at braiding hair, you could run a salon business and earn out of it. You could also expand your venture and offer other hair care services.

49. Nails studio

If you are good at offering manicure and pedicure services, you could run a nails studio.

50. Mobile foot massage

Most people spend their day on their feet, hence end up fatigued. You could offer foot massage services at a fee. This is one of the great small businesses ideas.

51. Cleaning business

You could also offer cleaning services and earn out of it. You do not to necessarily have to own a high workforce for you to earn out this venture. You could offer door to door services, or maybe clean offices.

52. Start a laundry business

Laundry business is one of the most profitable ventures that you could try out. You could start by establishing your venture within your neighbourhood and make it a brand.

53. Outside catering services

There is an increase in the number of events that are taking place. Majority of these events require catering services. You could tap onto the opportunity that they have created and offer the service at a fee.

54. Become a Yoga trainer

Wellness and fitness is another field that has recently been on the rise. The need to be physically fit is a very remunerative opportunity that you could tap onto by offering the service. You could become a fitness instructor and make enough money to pay your bills.

55. Rental business

There is a constant demand for housing facilities. You could invest in this venture. It, however, it requires a high investment cost.

The high rates of unemployment in the country are posing as a big threat to the citizens, especially to the youths. That, however, is not reason enough for you to sit back and look down upon yourself, waiting for tins to get better. You could make tins better by trying out these lucrative business ideas for women. Probably, wit time, you will make more returns than what an employed person makes.

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