The Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance has announced a partnership with Dowagiac-based nonprofit Chi Ishobak to help Pokagon tribal citizens with business needs.
The partnership will act as a referral program, sending Tribal Citizens to the WBC to prepare them with necessary business materials prior to requesting a loan. The WBC will provide free one-on-one business counseling to assist aspiring entrepreneurs with business plan creation and more.
“The Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance is excited to announce the partnership with Chi Ishobak, Inc., in support of native entrepreneurs,” said Kristen Patzer, Director of the WBC. “By providing technical assistance, [this] will enable them to secure much needed capital to start and grow their businesses.”
The WBC will provide free one-on-one business counseling to assist aspiring entrepreneurs with business plan creation and more.
“I cannot express how excited Chi Ishobak, Inc. is to partner with Cornerstone Alliance and the Women’s Business Center to provide Small Business Development assistance to tribal entrepreneurs,” said Chi Ishobak Executive Director Sean Winters, “The high-level of expertise, experience, and resource the WBC brings to Chi Ishobak’s Commercial Loan Program contributes another layer of opportunity for both start-up and existing Native-owned businesses.”
Chi Ishobak is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes the improvement of the financial capacity of all Tribal members by equipping them with the skills, knowledge and confidence that they need to make informed judgments and to make effective decisions with respect to their current and future personal and household circumstances.
