WORC

"With the help of WORC's Self-Employment Training and EOF loan, I was able to purchase new equipment and expand from a home-based business to a retail location in Philadelphia's Olney neighborhood..."

Lisa Bishop, Start Smart Graduate and EOF Loan Client
Owner, Voice of Victory Publishing, Inc.

Technical Assistance & Support Services

EOF offers the following services to our loan clients to support them on the road to success:

1. Post Loan Technical Assistance
   EOF staff meets with our loan clients at least quarterly to review business progress and financial information, continue business planning and to encourage them to take advantage of our other technical assistance services. We draw on skilled, small business consultants to provide issue-specific assistance through one-on-one consultations, site visits and referrals. If a loan client is having difficulty making timely payments, we also work with him/her to develop a solution to bring the loan current.
2. Individual Business Assistance
   EOF offers one-on-one counseling tailored to meet individual needs, e.g. accounting, legal, marketing, sales, finance, website, graphic design, etc.
3. Earned Income Tax Credit Preparation Program
   EOF, in partnership with the Campaign for Working Families (CWF), provides free tax preparation services to start-up and low-income businesses in the Greater Philadelphia area. The program allows self-employed filers to prepare their Schedule C with a professional accountant or certified volunteer at no charge and utilize the IRS’s new split tax refund to leverage additional assets via WORC’s asset building programs and services.
4. Credit Counseling
   EOF, in partnership with Consumer Credit Counseling Services, offers credit counseling services to teach clients how to repair their own credit by assessing their financial situation, using the supplied budget sheets, obtaining copies of their credit report, learning the Federal Fair Practices and the Federal and State rights of the consumer.

EOF is also offers access to services through our relationship with WORC and partnerships with other organizations including:

Start Smart Training & Individual Business Assistance
Several times a year we offer our “Start Smart” entrepreneurial training program; A six-week, two times per week educational series. Tailored assistance is also available to our program graduates in hourly increments.

www.WORCWeb.com & Market Access
We refer our clients via commercial linkages so that they can gain access to contracts and participation at business expos. In addition, our clients have access to www.WORCWeb.com, our online business directory.

Family Savings Accounts
Participants can earn a 100% match for each dollar they save, not to exceed $2,000, over a two-year period.

Financial Education
Building Blocks to Financial Success, WORC’s online financial education program which teaches the importance of savings and money management, debt management, credit and credit repair, bank products, loan and grant options, taxes, insurance and overall tools for financial budgeting and planning.

Computer Lab
Any active borrower or training participant may use our high tech Computer Lab during office hours to prepare documents, access the Internet, do design work, or (on a fee basis), or develop photos taken with digital camera.

Incubator
WORC has two offices available to graduates and current program participants on six-month renewable leases. Lessees have access to standard office equipment (copier, telephone, computer, high speed internet access, fax, machine and telephone), as well as the high tech computer lab.

For more information, please visit the Training Program and FSA areas of the website or call us at 215-564-5500.