As of May 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 15.5 million people were self-employed — an increase of 1 million from the prior year.[1] In a separate study, it is estimated that more than 40 percent of the workforce (60 million people) will be independent workers or freelancers by 2020.[2] To keep abreast of these workforce changes, SDWP partnered with Southwestern Community College District’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to provide training from SBDC’s Entrepreneurship Academy to workers who may want to start their own businesses or join the emerging freelance economy.

The Entrepreneurship Academy is a series of workshops that teaches participants how to start a business. In just six weeks, participants will learn about technology, business resources, legal issues, hiring practices and more. Participants will also receive at least two hours of one-on-one counseling with an expert SBDC advisor who has experience starting his/her own business. Participants must attend all 6 workshops in order to be eligible for a certificate.

The first cohort of SBDC’s Entrepreneurship Academy is scheduled to begin on June 23, 2016 with 20 participants. The second cohort is scheduled to start on August 8, 2016. Training seats are available at a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Entrepreneurship Academy is available at no cost to job seekers enrolled at the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC). Participants must be enrolled as Dislocated Workers, who have lost a job because his or her employer has moved, shut down, or reduced its workforce. Job seekers are encouraged to check in with their case managers at the AJCC if they are unsure whether or not they are eligible as a Dislocated Worker. All participants must have an active CalJOBS number in order to register for the Entrepreneurship Academy.

To register for the Entrepreneurship Academy, visit sdsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/11029.

Sources:
1. bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t09.htm
2. fastcompany.com/3049532/the-future-of-work/heres-why-the-freelancer-economy-is-on-the-rise