SUMMARY OF PROGRAM:
EEW seeks to establish a physical Business Incubator in the heart of the Old City of Acco. The purpose of this Incubator is to nurture and advance the businesses of low-income women who have taken the courageous step of opening a micro enterprise as a means for success, self-employment and financial independence. This program will provide 10-12 Jewish and Arab micro entrepreneurs, residents of Acco, with the physical space to run their business in an excellent centralized location that attracts both local and tourist populations. In addition to providing a location for running their business, the Business Incubator will also offer customized professional business assistance, advanced business training, shared administrative services, Internet access, legal services and networking opportunities to connect entrepreneurs with the people in their community who can foster business growth and profits. The Sunflower Business Incubator will not only serve these women but will function as a Business Development Center for other women micro entrepreneurs in Acco who are in need of services and a platform for the development and growth of their business. This will be the first and only Jewish-Arab Business Incubator strictly for low-income women in Israel and will serve as a tourist attraction in the heart of Acco, a city which has known great tension between the two populations over the last year.

TARGET POPULATION:
Low-income Jewish and Arab women residents of Acco, most of whom are graduates of Economic Empowerment for Women's "Business of One's Own" program who have demonstrated good business potential but are unable to develop a "home" based business due to lack of space, poor neighborhood conditions or lack of access to potential clients. Candidates will be chosen per set criteria by a committee of Steering Committee members.

THE MODEL:
 EEW is renting a 220 square meter structure at the entrance to Old City of Acco
 The structure includes: a lecture room for courses, small cafeteria, office equipment shared by businesses,
   renovated rooms for 10-12 businesses and a store where products of EEW business women will be exhibited and sold. 
 Women will exit the incubator after 2 years and will pay a fee of NIS 200 per month for use of the Incubator

COST:
An estimation for renovations, furniture and equipment is $111,300. The operational costs of the Business Incubator are estimated to be $75,000 per year.

PARTNERS:
 The City of Acco and the Department of Antiques of the Old City of Acco will provide the space at subsidized rent fee. 
 The National Insurance Department has approved a grant of $25,000 for operational expenses each year for a period of two
   years. 
 The Office of the Prime Minister has also approved a grant of $10,000 for the first year with the plan to continue this support
   in the future.
 Stichting Levi Lassen is partially supporting renovations and equipment

EEW NEEDS YOUR URGENT SUPPORT. Part of the renovations are completed but not all. EEW has funds for only basic equipment. To ensure this center opens on September 2010 as planned,
EEW still needs $43,800 for the renovations/equipment of this program.

For more information, please contact Beth Martin-Koren, Coordinator of Resource Development at beth@womensown.org.il, www.womensown.org.il, 972-52-323-2829

 Updated Request: May 23, 2010