Women’s Opportunities Resource Center
WORC works to close the wealth gap among Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs through an asset building approach by providing financial education, credit building, savings opportunities, and loans with the business assistance needed to become financially secure. WORC believes an individual must have both income and assets to become financially self-sufficient. WORC services focus on generating lasting assets that will appreciate over time and sustainable self-employment income.
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Mission
Our mission is to promote social and economic self-sufficiency primarily for economically disadvantaged women and their families. WORC provides entrepreneurial training, individual business assistance, incentive savings programs, and loans. Women, minorities and their families will achieve financial security/stability and move up the economic ladder through building income, emergency savings and increasing their assets.
Storytelling
Ms. Smith received a loan of $7,000 to start her auto tags business. With the loan she also received over 25 hours of business assistance in marketing and financial planning to get started. Today the business grosses $6,000 monthly, providing income for her family.
In the Family Saving Account program, Sandy saved $2,000 and received a $4,000 match, which went towards a down payment and closings costs on her new home in Drexel Hill, PA., where she now lives with her family. Sandy says, “I learned so much about how to save money, maintain credit, and establish financial goals.”
Our Impact (2022)
322 individuals served
60 training programs or workshops offered
26 funding partners
Use the icons to explore our impact metrics.
Access to Capital
Providing entrepreneurs capital in order to start and/or grow their business. (i.e. direct lending or grant programs for small businesses)
Removal of Barriers
Providing support to entrepreneurs to empower them and become more educated business owners (i.e. general business support, training in accessing procurement).
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51 Total number of loans awarded
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980,200 Total dollar amount of loans dispersed
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18 Total number of grants awarded
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139,500 Total amout of grants dispersed
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250 Total number of individual (1:1) technical assistance sessions conducted
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500 Total number of hours spent providing technical assistance
Type of Organization
- Community Economic Development Organization
- Lending Organization
Locations Served
- Metro Philadelphia
Key Programs and Initiatives
- Direct Lending Program
- Self-Employment Training
- Family Savings Account Program
Types of Offerings
- Financing
- Capital
- Entrepreneurial Training
- 1 to 1 business advising
- Business incubation
- Accelerator
- Technical Assistance
- Urban Renewal/Development
Program Delivery
- Hybrid (in person/virtual)
Members of the Black Community Served
- Immigrants
- Women
- 65+/Senior Citizens
Locations of Members of the Black Community Served
- Low-income areas
- Urban areas
Targeted Entrepreneur Segments
- Business Services
- Construction
- Wholesale & Retail Trade
- Accommodation & Food Services
- Transportation & Logistics
- Media & Publishing
- Health Care & Social Services
- Technology & Software Development
Business Stage
- Start Up : a young business that is just beginning to develop and determine a market fit.
- Stay Up : a business that has determined its market fit, but its product/service has not been validated nor has it achieved sustainability.
- Scale Up : a business that already validated its product in a market and has proven sustainable.
Cost of Programs
- Free
- $101-$200