Major programs and services include:

                          Programs, Workshops and Seminars

The Atlanta Microenterprise Initiative (AMI) - is a comprehensive, 9 week workshop that helps emerging and new entrepreneurs learn how to start and manage a successful business, as well as how to determine funding needs and write a detailed business plan. Topics covered throughout the workshop series include business licensing and regulation; marketing, including primary and secondary research and analyses; business taxes, tax credits and other incentives; bookkeeping; sales/business development; operations; contract and equal employment opportunity laws; presentation skills; and business technology and e-commerce. AMI is an income-based program and new classes form three times per year.

The Franchise Development Program - seeks to increase franchise ownership among women by providing education and technical assistance to better ensure long-term business success. The program aids entrepreneurs identify potentially suitable franchise opportunities and also helps franchisors identify potential franchisees from a pool of qualified candidates

The Non-Profit Workshop - is designed for social entrepreneurs that want to establish non-profit businesses and is delivered in three sessions. Session I discusses the legal and related aspects of forming and maintaining a non-profit organization. Session II is delivered as a hands-on computer lab that interactively discusses the grants research and writing process. Session III is a non-profit roundtable where emerging social entrepreneurs can ask questions to leading figures in the non-profit sector. Sessions I and II are presented three times per year; Session III is presented once per year.

The Patents and Trademarks Workshop - is targeted to inventors, writers and those who wish to learn how to protect their company's brand and discusses the fundamentals of trademark, copyright and patent issues, as well as the handling of related disputes. Workshops are presented three times per year.

Lecture Series - provides topical discussions on a wide variety of business-related subjects, ranging from "Logistical Considerations for Day Care Centers" and "Employment Law", to "How to Start a Wedding Planning Business", "Effective Business e-Mail" and "Business Financial Management". Workshops are presented periodically.

Demystifying the Business Financing Process - seeks to help entrepreneurs understand the fundamentals of business financing, as well as the pros and cons of debt versus equity funding. Workshops are presented three times per year.

                      Other Services and Technical Assistance

Loan origination and packaging - WEDA / MAWBC is an SBA Technical Assistance Provider and, in partnership with Innovative Bank of Oakland, California, originates and packages SBA-guaranteed Community Express microloans of up to $50,000. Informational seminars are held monthly.

                     Registering For A WEDA / MAWBC Workshop or Seminar
Registering for our workshops is easy. Just click on Registration. If there is a cost associated with the workshop, you can make a secure online payment using a credit or debit card or one-time bank account debit via PayPal and sending your payment to "payments@weda-atlanta.org." (New users will first have to sign up for the Pay Pal service.) If you prefer, you can also register and pay in person by visiting our office prior to the scheduled workshop date. Please note that many of WEDA's workshops fill up quickly; once we reach capacity, we can accept no new registrations. For this reason, you are encouraged to register and pay as soon as possible. Please note also that the only way to guarantee your reservation is to pay in advance.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Please contact WEDA at (678) 904-2201 to inquire about arrangements.

This U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Cooperative Agreement is partially funded by SBA. SBA's funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

For inquiries or comments, please e-mail inquiries@WEDA-atlanta.org