In This Edition
• Desserts & More + Awards Celebration
• The Kauffman FastTrac® Series
• Webinar: Stuck in the Supply Chain
• Philadelphia MED Week 2022
• SBA Update
• Monthly Fun Fact and Quote
• WBEC-East Webinars and Events
• Welcome Newly Certified WBEs
• SHARE Pittsburgh Event
• GACO’s 33rd Procurement Fair
• Comcast Rise Grant Funding
Desserts & More -
Annual Fundraiser & Awards Celebration
The time to register is running out!

Desserts & More is a formal evening celebration that brings together women entrepreneurs, corporate sponsors, supplier diversity professionals, and valued community partners, for a fun opportunity to mix, mingle and build relationships. We will proudly showcase WBEC-East’s successful business owners, honor our annual awardees, and raise funds to ensure we can continue our mission.

All are welcome! Please come out to enjoy some desserts, a sit-down dinner, mingle with the local small business community, and help support the dreams of women entrepreneurs in our region!
Don't forget to support your 2022 Annual Award Winners and Nominees!
FastTrac®
The ultimate entrepreneurial prep course for women with a strong business concept.

The Kauffman FastTrac® series is an educational program, created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, which is designed to help you evaluate and perfect your business concept, as well as complete a comprehensive business plan. Whether you’re starting a food truck or a factory, a construction company, or a consulting firm, you need a plan. This 10-week series offered twice a year can help.
*NEW* Webinar - Stuck in the Supply Chain: What Can Small Business Owners Do?
October 4th, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

There's no doubt about it, the supply chain is extremely challenging to navigate right now, and many small business owners are finding themselves unable to obtain the necessary materials to meet the needs of their own clients.

We've brought together a panel of three women business owners who deal with supply chain challenges on a daily basis. In the first part of this program, they'll share their insights on navigating the current quagmire and recommendations for other small business owners. In the second part of this program, we will break out into small groups for you to share your own challenges with other local small business owners.
Cocktails & Conversations - Presented by the WBEC-East Women of Color Committee
October 5th, 5:15 - 7:15 PM

Join WBEC-East this Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) for an evening of cocktails and conversations, presented by the Women of Color (WOC) Committee! The Women of Color Committee was created to address the unique issues that women of color owned businesses face. What better time to commemorate this initiative than during MED Week?

This networking event is focused on WOC entrepreneurs & businesses. Come join us at Bok Bar – a woman-owned venue, to meet new people in our region and build valuable business connections!
Location:
Bok Bar
80 Mifflin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week 2022
Monday, Oct. 3 - Friday, Oct. 7, 2022

Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week is a national observance that recognizes the outstanding achievements of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). The event also honors corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development. MED Week was proclaimed by the U.S president in 1983.

This year’s 38th annual Philadelphia MED Week will equip diverse minority-owned businesses with resources and connections to help them grow. Throughout the week, organizations from across the region will host hybrid networking events, panel discussions, and workshops focused on this year’s theme: Forging the Future: Growing Generational Wealth – “This is How We Do It!”
SBA Update
SBA Administrator Guzman Announces $7.2 Million in PRIME Grants to Help Emerging Micro-Entrepreneurs Gain Access to Capital

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA and the voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced a $7.2 million grant award to 38 organizations under the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME), a $1.7 million increase, up 30% from last year’s allocated $5,500,000 in funding. The PRIME award will support these nonprofit organizations as they help low-income entrepreneurs get financing to establish and expand their small businesses or provide capacity-building training for other organizations that provide capital to underserved small businesses. 
WBEC-East Webinars & Events
October 11, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

In this interactive webinar, we'll learn about McNees Wallace & Nurick's supplier diversity and procurement initiatives
 October 18, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

If you've always dreamed of owning your own business, or if you'd like to understand how WBEC-East can help your business grow, our free Orientation and Business Assessment workshop is for you!
October 21, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Whether you’re newly certified or have been for years, we'll show you how to make the best of your certification and grow your business.
October 28, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

We'll show you how to gain the prestigious Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) certificate and use it to build your business!
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Joyce Cadesca via email at jcadesca@wbeceast.com to make arrangements.
Welcome Newly Certified WBES!
Certified August 2022
• Academic Coaching Experts LLC.
• Calicutts Spice Co., Inc.
• Castelli Professional Painting, LLC
• ComfortZone Home Health Care
• Czar The Great LLC DBA Everything Is Transit
• GL Kreiner,Inc
• Goldblum, Pollins & Dennis, P.C.
• Hi-Tech Consulting Solutions LLC
•Munnlane LLC DBA Munnlane Workplace
• Nuebotics Solutions LLC
• Radiate Joy LLC
• Red Kite Consulting Inc DBA Red Kite Project, Inc
• Renegade Solutions, LLC
• S.V.B. Associates, Inc. DBA Security Systems of America (SSA)
• SCM Solutions Inc.
• Secourra LLC
• Tempered Insulation, Inc.
• Ten Four Social
• Woodrooffe Trucking LLC
Partner Updates
SHARE Pittsburgh
October 17, 2022 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

You are invited to attend SHARE 2022 in Pittsburgh, a hybrid matchmaker. We strongly encourage you to join SHARE in person, but there is a virtual option for those unable to be there. Western Pennsylvania’s top economic engines and community organizations are coming together once again for SHARE 2022 in Pittsburgh.

Bringing together the region’s top corporations and institutions, connecting them with Diverse suppliers to expand opportunities and increase growth for the region's businesses.
GACO’s 33rd Procurement Fair
October 26, 2022 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Pennsylvania Western University – California and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania are sponsoring GACO’s 33rd Procurement Opportunities Fair to assist businesses interested in pursuing government contracts and subcontracts. The fair provides an excellent chance for businesses to network with government agencies and for prime contractors seeking to identify potential vendors and suppliers. A number of government agencies, major corporations, business resource partners and local purchasing representatives will participate in the fair offering a tremendous marketing opportunity for businesses. Additionally two training seminars will be held during the day.
Comcast RISE Grant Funding
The deadline for your small business application is October 14, 2022

Comcast is providing grants to small businesses owned by women and people of color, including Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian American owners, as part of our Comcast RISE Investment Fund initiative. Comcast RISE launched in late 2020 to provide these small businesses with the resources they need to navigate the challenges of the pandemic. This round of the Investment Fund will grant to small businesses in the City of Philadelphia. Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and it is our hope that these grants will help them not only grow but thrive.
Funded in part through Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Liz Walsh at 215-936-9392 or ewalsh@wbeceast.com