Mercy Enterprise Corporation

MERCY ENTERPRISE CORPORATION PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MICRO-ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND ACTS AS A CATALYST TO BUILD COMMUNITY INTEGRATION, FINANCIAL SECURITY AND GREATER ECONOMIC OPTIONS FOR LOW INCOME POPULATIONS.

RE-ENTRY SERVICES IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF SERVICES HELPING INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS TO REINTEGRATE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND BECOME POSITIVE FACTORS IN THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ALSO WORK AT THE POLICY LEVEL TO ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGES THAT PROMOTE THESE GOALS OF SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY, AND SEEK A HEALTHIER, MORE SECURE COMMUNITY.

TRAINING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: PROVIDING BASIC BUSINESS TRAINING COURSES AND EXTENSIVE ONE ON ONE BUSINESS COUNSELING AND SUPPORT. THESE TRAINING CLASSES PROVIDE THE CORE COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO START OR RUN A SMALL BUSINESS FOCUSING ON BUSINESS BASICS, MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY, CREDIT MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE. IN ADDITION TO TRAINING REFUGEES IN FARMING OPERATIONS, THE FARM PROGRAM PROVIDES HANDS ON EXPERIENCE IN DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF HARVESTS. AN SBA FUNDED PROGRAM FACILITATED TEAMS OF SMALL BUSINESSES; WOMEN, MINORITY AND SERVICE DISABLED OWNED BUSINESSES TO BID ON LARGER FEDERAL CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES THAN HAD HISTORICALLY BEEN WITHIN THEIR COMPETENCIES.

THE STATE OF OREGON PROVIDES FUNDING, MATCHED BY HHS' ASSET FOR INDEPENDENCE (AFI) AGENCY, TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN CREATING AND EXPANDING THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES. THE INDIVIDUALS SAVE THEIR OWN MONEY, ATTEND BUSINESS TRAINING SESSIONS, AND HAVE THEIR SAVINGS AUGMENTED BY THE OREGON AND AFI FUNDING. THE PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE TRAINING PROGRAM IN FACILITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS SKILLS. MANY OF THESE IDA CLIENTS ULTIMATELY CONVERT TO MICRO-LOAN CLIENTS, USING THEIR IDA ASSET PURCHASE TO COLLATERALIZE THEIR BUSINESS LOAN.