(Washington, DC) – On Monday, September 8, 2014, The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) and the DC Women’s Business Center held “Connect@” Gateway Pavilion – an event to celebrate over 200 DC entrepreneurs having completed the rigorous 10-week FastTrac DC program. Attendees joined DSLBD at the Gateway Pavilion located on St. Elizabeth’s East Campus. The event was successful in bringing together Kauffman FastTrac® graduates, current participants, and community members who support DC entrepreneurs and small businesses. 

 

“DSLBD is very proud of the entrepreneurs who completed this rigorous program,” said Robert Summers, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development, as he welcomed attendees. “DC Entrepreneurs tend to be uniquely qualified to overcome the challenges that go along with operating small businesses. FastTrac DC prepares them to better navigate these challenges.  DSLBD is proud to join forces with our partners like the DC Women’s Business Center to ensure small businesses continue to receive the support needed to mature and thrive.”

 

Launched in 2012, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, DSLBD implemented FastTrac DC to assist entrepreneurs in building and strengthening their businesses. Kauffman FastTrac© is a leading provider of learning programs that prepare aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the business skills and insights, tools,  and resources to start and grow successful businesses. Earlier this year, DSLBD and Kauffman FastTrac® announced the graduation of 200 District entrepreneurs from the program.

 

FastTrac DC’s offerings include three training courses, NewVenture™, TechVenture™, and GrowthVenture™. Since the launch of the program, over 10 courses have been held throughout the District in conjunction with a host of DC-based small business technical assistance organizations including the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Anacostia Economic Development Corporation, and DC Women’s Business Center. The DC Women’s Business Center (WBC) has facilitated 5 courses and graduated 100 participants alone. FastTrac DC courses are offered throughout the year. For more information about upcoming programs, please visit the FastTrac DC website bizdc.affiliate.fasttrac.org/. 

 

About the District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development

The District of Columbia Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) fosters the economic growth, development, and retention of District of Columbia based businesses, and promotes economic development throughout the District’s commercial districts. DSLBD envisions a business environment in which DC businesses are connected in real-time with local, federal, and global business opportunities; businesses navigate government quickly, confidently, and effectively; and, every entrepreneur and business with a great idea and a great plan has the capital to make it happen. For more information, go to dslbd.dc.gov  or contact us at [email protected]. Follow DSLBD on Twitter at @SmallBizDC, or like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/smallbizdc. 

 

About the DC Women’s Business Center

The Washington, DC Women's Business Center (DCWBC) is a business development organization that serves women entrepreneurs in the Washington, DC Capitol Region. The DCWBC is managed by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). The DCWBC provides training and consulting to assist in the growth of women-owned businesses in federal procurement opportunities. For more information about DCWBC, go to www.dcwbc.org/.