El Pajaro Community Development Corporation
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to promote equal access to economic opportunity. Our vision is to transform people’s lives through entrepreneurship. El Pájaro CDC accomplishes its mission through various strategies. Since its inception, El Pájaro CDC has focused on developing micro-enterprises and small businesses. We have successfully assisted hundreds of small businesses with technical assistance, loan application and packaging, business plans, marketing, management, and business technology applications. To request assistance or to learn more than what is available on this page, please click here to visit the El Pájaro CDC website.
Training
El Pájaro CDC offers low-cost and free bilingual business education and training workshops to low-income business entrepreneurs. Our objective is to help business entrepreneurs create and operate a successful business. Workshops cover business plan preparation, marketing and sales, customer service, bookkeeping, computer basics, business management, and financial literacy.
THE BUSINESS SERVICES OFFERED BY THE EL PÁJARO CDC ARE NOT OFFERED CONTINUOUSLY. PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS.
Business Plan Preparation (BPP) Workshops
Are you starting, buying, financing, or re-financing a business? A business plan guides you as you make your steps in the business world and helps you achieve success by avoiding common mistakes.
Introduction to Business Plan: (3 hour evening workshop)
Learn the basic outline, flow and components of a business plan. Participants begin drafting their own business plan during the workshop. Participants leave the workshop with a preliminary outline of their own business plan based on their own business idea.
Business Plan in Four Steps (Meets 4 times, weekly meetings, 2.5 hours each meeting)
Learn about and write a detailed business plan based on your business idea.
- Motivation: Evaluate the feasibility of your business concept.
- Marketing: Determine how you will position, promote, and sell your product or service to compete effectively in the marketplace.
- Management: Describe how you will organize and operate your company to achieve your goals.
- Money: Develop key financial information that you can use to manage your business and to meet the requirements of investor and lenders.
Marketing and Sales Workshop (3 hour evening workshop)
How do you use marketing tools to increase sales for your business? Learn about markets, market analysis, competitors, competitive advantage, target markets, and understand demand for your product. You will leave with a better understanding of your market and how you can plan your marketing tactics to increase your success and sales.
Customer Service Workshop (3 hour workshop)
How do you serve your customers? Learn how to offer qualitative service to your customers and to deal with day-to-day operation of selling to customers such as how to greet customers, close sales with customers, and improve your interaction with customers to increase the success of single or complex sales.
Bookkeeping Workshop (3 hour workshop)
How do you keep bookkeeping records for your business? What type of computer software do you use? Learn the basics about how to prepare financial reports such as tax, sales, payroll and other important reports. Receive help in selecting and learning about accounting applications such as Quickbooks or Peach to create and maintain bookkeeping reports.
Computer Education Classes (up to 12 week course, weekly meetings, 2 hours meetings)
CALL OUR OFFICE TO FIND ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF THIS CLASS.
In this series of classes you will learn how to use a computer and software applications to benefit your business. Topics include basic computer literacy, introduction to Microsoft Suite software such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc, and introduction to the internet. Learn how to use the internet to benefit your business by looking for suppliers, vendors and/or customers.
Business Management Workshop (3 hour workshop)
Are you starting a business or having problems with your current business? Learn how to successfully manage financial, sales, customer service, and personnel problems. Discuss specific problems that might arise or have already arisen in the management and operation of your business.
Financial Literacy Workshop (3 hour workshop for whole community)
CALL OUR OFFICE TO FIND ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF THIS CLASS.
How do you manage your personal finances? Learn the importance of personal expense, savings and credit. Learn how to save, how to use a checking or savings account, and the requirements for obtaining credit. This workshop is offered to the entire community by El Pájaro CDC in partnership with other community organizations.
In-Depth Business Workshop (NEW)
El Pájaro CDC is offering a new workshop based on the in-depth business training materials. For more information on this training call our office. Participants that complete a business plan and start a business during and after taking this course may be eligible for micro-loans facilitated by the El Pájaro CDC.
NOTE: THE BUSINESS SERVICES OFFERED BY THE EL PÁJARO CDC ARE NOT OFFERED CONTINUOUSLY. PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF CLASSES.
Consulting
El Pájaro CDC offers free bilingual consulting and technical assistance to low and moderate -income business entrepreneurs who are starting or maintaining a business. Clients meet with our consultants to receive one-on-one technical assistance in the areas:
- Pre-loan Application Packaging
- Loan Application Preparation
- Business License Application
- Other Business Application Preparation
- Marketplace Research & Analysis
- Business Analysis & Performance
- Financial Management
- Business Acquisition Analysis
Business Resource Assistance
New or current business owners can obtain one-on-one professional consultant assistance on questions related to planning, managing and operating a business. Receive assistance preparing applications for loans, business licenses or other applications related to your business.
Pre-Loan Preparation & Loan Application Assistance
Are you thinking about applying for a loan for a new or existing business? Talk with our consultants to learn about loan application processes, loan requirements, and loan reporting. Our consultant will help you make an analysis of your loan needs and help you be sure that your application is prepared properly and ready for submission.
Business Analysis & Performance
Do you have a new idea for a business or have plans for expanding your business? Talk with our consultants about the feasibility and next steps of your business plans. Consultants help business entrepreneurs understand the market, analyze the marketplace, and understand product demand. Consultants help business owners analyze their business history to assess expansion plans.
Financial Management
Whether you are a new or existing business, our consultant can help you with your financial management and reporting systems. Our consultants offer business financial analysis and provide suggestions for improving financial systems. Talk with our consultant about accounting software, financial reports, or financial requirements. The analysis covers basic human resources management, inventory control and management, product services and price control, and record keeping systems.
Business Acquisition Analysis
Are you thinking about buying an existing business? When you acquire a business you should make sure that you appraise it and buy it properly. Check with our consultants about the feasibility of the business acquisition before you take out a loan or spend a large amount of money and time. Our consultants can help you conduct an appraisal of the business, consider the benefits and downfalls of the plan, and make an informed decision about your business acquisition.