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EWDD Management Assistant and Business Response Team member Yovana Perez (left) addresses a client at the LA Women’s Entrepreneurship Day event November 19, 2019.

News for the Week of NOVEMBER 18, 2019

EWDD’S PROVIDES CONTRACTING INFO AT LA WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP DAY For the second year in a row, EWDD’s Business Response Unit (BRU) attended the Los Angeles Women’s Entrepreneurship Day celebration at City Hall South, November 19, 2019. This year, the BRU team emphasized providing information about how small businesses owned by women, minorities and disabled individuals can receive certifications to win more contracts with the City. EWDD’s BRU has received an uptick in inquiries from small businesses on how to obtain Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certifications, said EWDD Senior Project Coordinator Vanessa Willis. An estimated 1,700 individuals attended the event, and the BRU arrived prepared to provide guidance and answer questions from business owners about EWDD’s business assistance programs, including referrals to the City’s nine BusinessSource Centers, overseen by EWDD.

Building Local Business Strengthening LA’s Workforce

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NORTH VALLEY BSC HELPS ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCH LATIN INFUSED COFFEE SHOP The North Valley BusinessSource Center (BSC) assisted entrepreneur Adriana Zuniga to help her launch her Latin-infused coffee shop Cara Vana, Inc. Adriana learned about the BusinessSource Centers at a women’s entrepreneur event. She visited the North Valley BSC after she encountered some issues that were preventing her from launching her business. At the center, a business coach provided guidance about how to obtain a business license with the City of Los Angeles, including information about permits and the Restaurant and Small Business Express program. Soon after, Adriana contacted the North Valley BSC to inform them that as a result of their assistance, she passed all the inspections and was ready to open the doors of her business. After the Cara Vana soft opening, a North Valley business coach assisted Adriana in putting hiring packets together, along with an overview of human resources laws and procedures. The coach also provided templates for job applications, hiring documents, employee files and employee handbooks. So far, Adriana has hired one part-time and one full-time barista. She is also scheduled to meet with a North Valley business coach to learn more about access to capital.

The North Valley BusinessSource Center helped entrepreneurs Kim Lopez (left) and Adriana Zuniga (right) establish the Cara Vana coffee shop in North Hollywood.

Building Local Business Strengthening LA’s Workforce

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COMPASS ROSE COLLABORATIVE ALUM GAINS CONFIDENCE, JOINS TECH FIELD Compass Rose Collaborative (CRC) graduate Demarkus Matthews stopped by

the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource

Center (YSC) on November 12, 2019 to inform staff that he is now working at General Assembly, where he earns $25

per hour working as a teacher’s assistant. Demarkus said he loved being part of the CRC six-week hands-on construction training program because he learned practical skills, participated in a paid internship and got back into physical shape. “Being in the CRC program has helped me with my self-esteem and to pursue my dreams,” he said. Demarkus said he wants to launch a web development and coding training program for re-entry and at-risk young adults. The YouthSource Center referred Demarkus to the East LA BusinessSource Center for guidance on how to develop a business plan and how to become an entrepreneur. The City of LA was one of three cities awarded the CRC grant from the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration in June 2018. The program, which is offered at EWDD’s Boyle Heights YSC, provides construction safety training to re-entry youth ages 18-24.

Compass Rose Collaborative alum Demarkus Matthews (above) credits the program for giving him the self-esteem to pursue his dream of working in tech

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BUSINESS METRICS:

LABSCs Reporting: North Valley, West Valley, South Valley, South LA, East LA, Mid City, Central West, Hollywood and Harbor

Microenterprise enrolled 16

Microenterprise assisted 92

Small businesses enrolled 4

Small businesses assisted 21

Number of BSC clients who attended workshops 0 WORKFORCE METRICS: (Monthly metrics for November 2019 will be provided the week of December 2nd)

CalJobs (online and mobile) WorkSource Centers

Registrations

Enrollments

"Updates" is the weekly report from the EWDD Interim General Manager to the Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, and is produced by EWDD’s communications section. If you have questions, comments or wish to have a contribution considered for an upcoming "Updates," please contact Jamie Francisco at (213) 744-9048 or Jamie.Francisco@lacity.org