Since the Workshops in Business Opportunities (WIBO) program first launched in New York, it has proven itself to be a sustainable community development model. Already the program has been replicated for more than 10 years at Alliance member FSW, Bridgeport, Conn.
The Alliance has secured licensing rights from WIBO in New York to replicate the 16-week training program through Alliance member organizations and hopes to grow the number of Alliance members operating the program to at least 10.
This national replication process is possible thanks to financial support from the Smith Richardson Foundation. The foundation is a long-time funder of FSW’s program and provided the seed money for the Alliance-WIBO partnership.
“The Alliance is a champion of what I like to call ‘promise projects,’” says Undraye Howard, vice president of the intellectual capital division at the Alliance. “We continue to scour the country for best promise projects, package them for members in a way that makes them easy to replicate, and follow that up with ongoing knowledge and networking opportunities to promote project success.”
Although members interested in operating the WIBO program will be required to pay an upfront franchise fee, Howard emphasizes that the program is designed to benefit more than the program’s participants. “WIBO also promotes the sustainability of the Alliance members who operate the program,” he says.
To learn more about the Alliance’s replication efforts and how to become involved, contact Undraye Howard, vice president of the intellectual capital division at the Alliance, at 414-359-6554.
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