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Mercy Connections
346 Shelburne Rd.
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 846-7063
Fax: (802) 846-7237
Women's Small Business Program

Since 1989, the Women’s Small Business Program has been offering educational training programs, primarily to women, with the goal of facilitating economic self sufficiency and entrepreneurial growth. WSBP is a program of Mercy Connections.

WSBP Programs and Services

Getting Serious:

This four week workshop is designed to help you explore business ownership as your possible next career step. You will discover if business ownership is right for you, examine and expand your business idea(s), clarify your entrepreneurial and business related skills, and create an action plan for next steps.

Start Up:

Is a fifteen week intensive program for women who are starting, stabilizing or expanding a small business. Class emphasizes financial planning, marketing, personal and professional development with the goal of completing a professionally reviewed business plan.

The fall 15-week cycle of Start Up will begin on January 28, 2010 .

There are links on the right for: Application packet (application, self-assessment, and scholarship application)

  • Start Up course description
  • Frequently asked questions about Start Up
  • Class schedule (Thursdays-5:30 to 9 and alternate Sunday afternoons 12-6p.m.)
  • Mercy Connections scholarship application

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of the Start Up course is $1,795.00, which includes our course materials. Please don’t let financial concerns keep you from applying because:

  • Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) non-degree grants pay our entire tuition for most lower income applicants. Call 1-800-882-4166 for a free application since it is not available on line. Complete the VSAC form first and send it and a copy of your 2008 taxes and W-2’s off to VSAC in Winooski. Their processing takes a while.
  • Mercy Connections has scholarships available from KeyBank and the Sisters of Mercy. For scholarship consideration: Download and complete the Mercy Connections Scholarship form and mail in with 2008 taxes and W-2’s.
  • We offer a 4 month payment plan for whatever tuition balance students may owe.

 Applying to Start Up

Please download, complete and submit your application along with a $25 non-refundable application fee to:
Ali Marchildon, Women's Small Business Program,
346 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT 05401.

Once your application has been received, you will be contacted to arrange an interview. The interview is an opportunity to go over details and to be sure that placement in the class is going to be the right fit.

Ali Marchildon
Program Coordinator
(802) 846-7338
amarchildon@mercyconnections.org

Getting Serious Class
Four Thursdays
6 - 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 2009

Cycle 41 of Start Up
Semester starts August 27, 2009

Cycle 42 of Start Up
Semester starts January 28, 2010

Getting Serious Workshop Registration Form
Getting Serious Scholarship Form
Start Up Application & Scholarship Form
Fall 2009 Start Up Course Calendar
Spring 2010 Start Up Course Calendar
Start Up course description
Start Up FAQ
Women's Small Business Program Links
Graduate Business Directory
Grand Openings
Flashbags
WSBP Start Up
Lunaroma
Nido
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