Washington State Employment Programs Approve Business Start-Up Training

SEAP and Career Bridge Approved Small Business Training

Lacey, WA – The Washington Center for Women in Business (WCWB) has been a long-standing approved provider from Employment Security Department through its Self-Employment Assistance Program (SEAP), which provides training to entrepreneurs, and start-ups through its online webinar, Business Enterprise Startup Training (BEST). The WCWB is now also an approved provider of education and training through CareerBridge.wa.gov. This designation provides training for those individuals who qualify for Title I-B of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and through the Washington State Training Benefits Program.

The eight-week program teaches entrepreneurs how to start a business and provide self-employment through technical tools, knowledge, individual advising and hands-on work in business plan writing and cash flow projections. BEST has trained close to 300 entrepreneurs.

Students participating under SEAP continue to receive unemployment benefits while working to start a business instead of looking for a job with an employer. Those taking the class through CareerBridge may either use an Individual Training Account voucher to pay for costs and/or get additional weeks of unemployment to support them while building their business.

“I joined the class when considering opening up my own service business. The overview of this class answered so many questions and provided a wide variety of resources to take things to the next level and know where to go. I love the confidence I gained and the knowledge I acquired has given me what I need to take things to the next level. I now see that I have more research to do, financial planning/preparation, and focus to set myself up for success. I am working on all of that and more inspired after taking this class!”  – BEST Class Participant

About the Washington Center for Women in Business

The WCWB is a program of the Center for Business & Innovation (CB&I), whose mission is to empower entrepreneurs to succeed in business by providing coaching, training, and technical assistance on a wide variety of topics. The WCWB differs from other programs of the CB&I because our Business Coaches are dedicated to helping the Womanpreneur see her business goals realized.

The WCWB offers entrepreneurial training programs, workshops, one-on-one counseling, coaching and special events to women in all stages of business development. Using in-person, phone, and web-based delivery methods, the WCWB provides services throughout most of the State of Washington. We are able to serve you in English or Spanish.