Alternative self-employment training programs are offered by Women's Economic Ventures. Small Business & Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise opportunities with CalPERS are available at CalPERS Business Connection. Also see Sell to Air Force. (http://www.selltoairforce.org/)
With grant funding from the California State Library, the Lompoc Public Library opened a Small Business Information Collection. The collection features books, books-on-tape and CDs, as well as DVDs in English and Spanish on topics ranging from writing business plans and taxes to marketing and management. An Internet station is reserved for small business users conducting business related online research. Business databases provided through the grant can be accessed from the library or remotely.
The Lompoc Library is now a Cooperating Library of the prestigious New York-based Foundation Center. The $1,000 membership fee was shared by the following partners: Lompoc Community Development Foundation, Lompoc Mural Society, Lompoc Museum and Friends of the Library. The Foundation Center's online database is now available locally to library users. A collection of books on grant seeking was also provided as part of the membership.
As banks tighten credit, small-business owners turn to online networks for funds. Individual borrowers and lenders are meeting online. Here are some sites listed in The Wall Street Journal article "Where Either a Borrower Or a Lender Can Be" (March 12, 2008):
- Zopa.com - Lenders get lower returns than on other sites, because Zopa puts the lenders' money in federally-insured certificates of deposit. Lenders can accept a lower CD return, with the difference going to help reduce a borrower's payment.
- LendingClub.com - Approved borrowers post their loan descriptions. Lenders can choose individual borrowers or use the "Lending Match" technology to build a diversified portfolio of loans.
- Prosper.com - Borrowers post listings that detail how much they want to borrow- up to $25,000, repayable over three years -what they're planning to use the money for, and how much they're willing to pay in interest. Prospective lenders bid on the loans and set the minimum rate they are willing to accept.
- VirginMoneyUS.com - Family and friends use the site to set up loan-payment plans. The company handles the paperwork and services the loan.
- GlobeFunder.com - Lenders specify what types of loans they want to make and the site, using decision-matching software, finds loans that meet their criteria. Borrowers choose from a range of recommended interest rates.
