Micorenterprise Training

The Microenterprise Program achieved great success with a full-time director, expanding training sessions and technical support to include S.C.O.R.E. and the Lowell Small Business Assistance Center, and issuing additional micro loans to bring the total loan granted to over $85,000 and the number of loan recipients to seventeen.

In 2000, 27 students completed the program and 10 businesses were established creating over 20 new jobs. Many of the businesses that were started by past graduates throughout the history of the program continue to grow and prosper, including Five Star Video (Ith Robin Lunn) and EKREACH Temps (Dave Khon). We count the success of these up-and-coming entrepreneurs among our own successes.

Plans for the coming year include hiring additional staff, including a part-time bookkeeper and a full-time micro loan originator. The ultimate goal is to package and underwrite the micro loans "in-house" in order to decrease processing time and increase the efficiency and timeliness of repayment and collection procedures. We also look forward to starting the Youth Entrepreneurship and mini loan programs in 2001.

The successes of the past year can only be attributed to the outstanding leadership and exceptional efforts of the Board of Directors, Advisory Committee, and community support. Without the hard work and support of talented people like CALL's past President, Vesna Nuon; acting President, Jim Wilde; Germaine Vigeant-Trudel, Treasurer; Pastor David Malone, secretary, Barry Pearson, Ken Masson, Vera Godley, Da Suon, Vannak Theng, and others, it would be difficult to continue our work. Special thanks to the Microenterprise Advisory Committee and to Donald Washburn of MassBank for Savings, Germaine Vigeant-Trudel of the Lowell Development and Finance Corporation, Ernie Middlemiss of Washington Savings Bank, Diane Baker of Northern Massachusetts Telephone Workers Credit Union, and Mark Friedman of Third Culture, for participating in the Microenterprise Loan Committee.

Bronnie Barry, BS, the Microenterprise Director, recruits students, coordinates instructors for training, provides technical assistance, and utilizes community business leaders for additional technical support. Bronnie comes to CALL after a number of years in education, which include Franklin Pierce College as the Assistant Director of the Salem Campus.

Mark Friedman, BA, MIA, as the Instructor/Business Training Coordinator, teaches classes and provides technical assistance to the program's participants. Mark is also on the faculty of Franklin Pierce College and Daniel Webster College and owns and operates a consulting firm, Third Culture, Inc.