The Centre For Women Inc

PROVIDE INNOVATIVE SERVICES THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE TAMPA BAY WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTRE: THIS PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO GROW AS WE HELP FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH AND EXPANDED THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES. WE OPERATE THE ONLY SBA-DESIGNATED WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTRE (WBC) ON THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA TO PROVIDE FREE BUSINESS COACHING, WEBINARS, TRAININGS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES. NOW IN ITS SEVENTH YEAR OF OPERATION, THE TAMPA BAY WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTRE IS PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF 141 WBCS NATIONWIDE. A RECORD 2,400 CLIENTS WERE SERVED IN OUR SIX-COUNTY AREA DURING THE YEAR. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES - SINCE 1980, THE SENIOR HOME IMPROVEMENT ("SHIP") PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED HOME REPAIR AND REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME, ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS IN TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. THE CENTRE IS A STATE CERTIFIED CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS AND HAS A LICENSED CONTRACTOR ON STAFF FULL-TIME. THE SHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES MAJOR AND MINOR HOME REPAIRS, CARPENTRY REPAIRS, MINOR PLUMBING REPAIRS, WHEELCHAIR RAMPS AND HANDICAP RETROFITS, AS WELL AS ROOF REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS. THROUGH A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, WE ALSO MANAGE THE COUNTY'S OWNER-OCCUPIED REHAB PROGRAM.FUNDING FROM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ENABLED US TO PURCHASE TWO NEW VEHICLES FOR THE CREWS REPLACING OUTDATED TRUCKS.

TAMPA BAY WORKS FOR WOMEN: ONE OF THE CENTRE'S CORE PROGRAMS, THIS IS A UNIQUE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO HELP WOMEN OVERCOME BARRIERS TO FINDING A JOB. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE ONE-ON-ONE JOB COACHING TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL, EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS TRAINING AND ENHANCEMENT THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS, AND SKILL-BUILDING PROGRAMS. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, WE OFFER AN ACCREDITED CONSTRUCTION TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH AFFORDS PARTICIPANTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE TRADES. THROUGHOUT 2021, WE ALSO OFFERED CAREER TRAINING AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS.

COUNSELING & WELLNESS- OUR LICENSED, MASTER'S LEVEL THERAPISTS PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE TO PEOPLE COPING WITH MENTAL WELLNESS ISSUES. WE STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, PARENTS, AND FAMILIES WHO ARE COPING WITH EVERYDAY CHALLENGES. SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA BLUE AND BANK OF AMERICA MAKE THIS PROGRAM FEASIBLE. OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR ALSO INTRODUCED A NEW SERIES OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ON RELATED MENTAL WELLNESS ISSUES.