Four Pomona women are one step closer to achieving their entrepreneurial dreams thanks to a group of College of Business Administration students.
The business majors, who belong to the student club Enactus, are helping four women from Tri-City Mental Health Center in Pomona realize their career interests, which range from launching their own cleaning company to becoming a published writer. Each week, Enactus members visit the women and help them draft business plans, devise marketing and promotion strategies and generate seed money for their business ideas.
The students are helping the entrepreneurs with the assistance of a $1,500 grant from the Women’s Economic Empowerment Project that is organized by Enactus’ U.S. office and sponsored by Walmart. Typically, only 73 schools throughout the country receive the grant. But Cal Poly Pomona has received the award for several years. Enactus members used last year’s grant money to provide job preparation assistance to unemployed women. Out of the 15 women who participated in the Enactus program, seven found jobs.
Renee Tan is an accounting student and an Enactus member. She says participating in the project has fueled a new career interest for her.
“You hear the women tell you about everything they went through, and it’s inspirational to see their determination,” Tan says. “I know after graduation I want to work with small businesses.”
Enactus also received a $1,500 grant from Sam’s Club and will work with the owner of The Music Boutique, a new business in downtown Pomona, to find ways to enhance the store’s marketing and financial operations. The club also will host an Ethics Forum in spring quarter.