I worked as the Director of Financial Services for Silicon Valley Economic Development in San Jose, CA from 1997 through 2005. We helped people start and maintain their own small businesses. We had a very small staff and I was hired by a great human being, Frank Beil. When Frank left, he was replaced by Consuelo Santos-Killins who recently passed away. Wee assisted 300 clients per year and got our funding mostly from CDBG. Among other programs, we contracted with the City of San Jose to run their Revolving Loan Fund which I was in charge of. We loved our jobs and had a great time there meeting and assisting some dreamers, some scheamers, mostly intelligent and all hard working folks from all over San Jose. We were able to secure two grants from Lucille Packard to help day care centers and I was in charge of that also. I wish someone of the Board of Directors would have contacted Larry Ellison for us. Maybe SVED would still be in business. It closed after 25 years in 2006. Darn!
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Economic Development, Urban & Community Economic Development
Mission: Since its inception in 1981, Silicon Valley Economic Development Corporation (SVED) has undertaken the dual mission of (1) developing innovative "self-sufficiency through self-employment" initiatives for this region's disadvantaged and (2) mobilizing scarce resources for such initiatives in an environment where conventional wisdom calls for training the disadvantaged to work "on the Rock rather than owning a piece of it."
Programs: Business Counseling/Mentoring. Micro-entrepreneurs are provided with one-on-one business counseling and mentoring. Sessions are focused on discussing the business idea and identifying strategies to move the idea from concept to reality. Additionally, when appropriate, micro-entrepreneurs are mentored on the the use of business technology. Business Training. SVED provides a two-track training program: Business planning training to new micro-entrepreneurs, and advanced business management training unique to the needs of those already in business. Technical Support. SVED provides specialized business-specific assistance, including the development of formal business plans, the preparation of loan applications, and the use of technology. Loan Programs. SVED has been able to leverage resources to establish loan and grant programs for disadvantaged micro-entrepreneurs. We manage several business revolving loan funds and loan/grant funds.
Donor & Volunteer Advisory
This organization's nonprofit status may have been revoked or it may have merged with another organization or ceased operations.