Stepping Stones Planning Grant Program Components

1
Stepping Stones Planning Grant Program Components
2
Trinity Students

• 95 female
• 67 African-American
• 13 Asian and Other
• 11 White Non-Hispanic
• 6 Hispanic/Latina
• 70 of freshman report total annual family
  incomes of less than 50,000
• 40 of freshman report total annual family
  incomes of less than 30,000
• 94 of students receive financial aid

3
Focus Group Research Questions

• Do single mothers making less than 35,000 per
  year contemplate self-employment?
• If so, what motivates them?
• What are the obstacles and barriers that prevent
  them from becoming self-employed?

4
Focus Groups

• Three focus groups
• 35 total participants
• Single mothers who made less than 35,000 per
  year
• Locations
• Trinity Campus
• Anacostia Professional Building, Ward 8, DC
• The Training Source, Prince Georges County,
  Maryland

5
Demographic Characteristics of Participants

Black 91 Aged 30-39 40 Some College
51 3 or more children 50

• 80 reported that their current income did not
  provide enough money to make ends meet
• 71 reported having average or bad credit
• 66 received some type of public or private
  benefits
• Only 5 participants owned their own homes

6
Goals for owning their own small businesses

• Build assets and wealth
• for my family 69
• Increase my familys income 54
• Be a role model for my children 49
• Serve my community by providing
• a much-needed service 40
• Give me the flexibility to take care
• of family members 40
• Give me a sense of pride and self-fulfillment 23
• Make me feel in control of my work environment
  20

7
Obstacles to owning their own small businesses

• Not having access to investment
• money 70
• Not having a strong credit history 44
• Not knowing how to start/run a
• small business 38
• Not owning property or other assets 32
• Not having necessary training or
• business skills 29
• I dont know anyone (or enough people) who
• can help me with my business. 17

8
MDO Web-based Database

• Research was lead and completed by undergraduate
  students
• We created an easily accessible, searchable,
  online directory of microenterprise development
  organizations in the DC Metro Area
• Contact Information for MDO
• Description and Mission of MDO
• Demographic characteristics of MDOs target
  audiences, including how many women the MDO
  served last year

9
(No Transcript)