Program Targets Immigrant Entrepreneurs

August 30, 2012

News Release

Indianapolis, Ind. -- Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana (BOI), has been working in cooperation with Catholic Charities’ Refugee and Immigrant Services program to offer free business education workshops to immigrant entrepreneurs interested in operating retail and child care facilities throughout Indianapolis.

Approximately 30 immigrant students have participated in the business workshops from countries including Nepal, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Bhutan, Ghana, Somalia and the Cape of Africa.

“There are major hurdles that go along with starting a business and these men and women have even more obstacles, including language, cultural differences to overcome,” said Julie Grice, executive director of BOI. “Our team is here to provide the tools necessary to successfully plan and launch their business.”

The series of workshops, concluding this week, were held Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 1-3 p.m. and were facilitated by BOI with assistance from ChildCare Answers. Six two-hour courses provided business orientation and lessons on, US currency, commerce, banking and general financial literacy.

“For refugees, navigating new systems is difficult, but made easy with community partners, like BOI. BOI not only teaches valuable business skills but extracts the great strengths of refugees,” said Gabrielle Campo, director of Refugee and Immigrant Services for Catholic Charities. “The organization empowers refugees with knowledge, self-confidence and, most importantly, hope. A hope that they too can obtain the American dream.”

In addition to the business workshops, the program participants also receive Catholic Charities assistance in other areas including English as a Foreign Language, job development, and counseling.

For more information on services offered through Business Ownership Initiative and the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center visit www.businessownershipinitiative.org.

About Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana

The mission of Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana (BOI) and its Central Indiana Women's Business Center program is to help men and women start or grow their own businesses by providing knowledge, skills and access to financial resources. Central Indiana Women's Business Center program is widely recognized by small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the 9- county Central Indiana region. The Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana is led by Julie Grice, executive director. For more information, visit www.businessownership.org.

About Refugee and Immigrant Services of Indianapolis

Refugee and Immigrant Services of Indianapolis (RISI) is a program of Catholic Charities Indianapolis and an affiliate of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, INC). RISI strives to rebuild the lives of refugee, asylees and immigrants. Hundreds of refugees are brought to Indianapolis, IN every year because they cannot return to their home country and do not enjoy basic rights in the country where they sought refuge. Catholic Charities Indianapolis helps these refugees integrate quickly into our community by providing them with the tools of self-reliance: housing, job placement and employment skills, clothing, medical attention, education, English-language classes, community orientation and immigration legal services.

Source: Business Ownership Initiative of Indiana