Investing in Women~When YOU Need a Grant!

New Business Grant Uses The Power Of Collaboration To Change Lives


Business Grants are elusive to most entrepreneurs and especially hard to find in a recession. Investing In Women (www.iiwomen.com) wants to change that and is asking for everyone to get involved in awarding grants. After awarding their first grant a few weeks ago, the company is ready to award another one.

The current grant applicant is Gazelle Simmons, a virtual assistant and author. She started her business Admin Services in 1998 and is currently in need of a new computer. “The desktop computer I’m currently using was purchased in February 2005...It is an essential part of my business and I couldn’t work without it.” Gazelle wrote in her grant application. As a virtual assistant she works with business owners who need administrative support but not a full time employee. Her services include, but are not limited to presentations, data entry, mass-mailings and editing/proofreading.

Gazelle lives in Atlanta, GA with her two teenage daughters. She is active in her community and spends her free time volunteering. After 10 years as an executive administrator she became her own boss so she would have the time to care for her aging parents. “I could be available for my parents, children even friends and family while still doing work I loved. For the first time in years, I looked forward to working.” says Gazelle

With the new grant program, everyone gets a chance to be involved. Investing In Women will begin the grant with $25 and the remainder will be donated through the site by visitors and from paid advertisements. All grant donors will receive recognition on the site with their name or website link.

“This gives us more transparency in our grant process and allows others to do something positive for a small business owner.” says Leah Oviedo, founder of Investing In Women. “Our goal is to offer 100 micro-grants in the next 2 years. After this grant is awarded we will be awarding another and so on.”

Investing In Women was founded in February of 2009 with the goal of encouraging women to be financially independent. They offer free business resources and tools that can be used by all entrepreneurs, not just women. Set up like a co-op, members of the site contribute their knowledge and resources on different business subjects. In exchange they receive free advertising.

If you would like to learn more about the Grant, Gazelle Simmons or Investing In Women visit http://iiwomen.com/New/index.htm.

Featured Business Woman: Cassandra from Rosalyn Scent

Would you like a unique scent made just for you? Would you like to give your clients gifts that are handmade from the very best? Would you like to have excellent customer service with excellent products? Then you need to step on over and talk to Cassandra at Rosalyn Scent.

I have a sample of Coconut Dream body cream that is great for my hands while I type all day. I have a fragrance sample that is nice. I recently gave away my suga baby lotion to a friend that will be purchasing soon!

It is all in the networking and building business!

Cassandra is a wonderful business woman. She has given me great ideas to impliment in my own gifts business and great ideas on gifts for my clients. Below is some brief info to check out her site.

My business info is Rosalyn Scent, I make natural skincare products and blend wonderful scents. I make my own perfumes, my online shop has a variety things to choose from. My products are for everyone to enjoy and Men can enjoy the Rosalyn Scent experience as well.

You can email Cassandra at rosalynsscent@yahoo.com

Getting to know Women Business Owners

As a business woman, I aspire to help and build other business women. We are so many things to so many people that we must multi-task everyday!

My business woman of focus today is Alba Henderson. She is a woman of many hats. Her blog, Your Focus, is one of the best I have seen! She is hosting a virtual book tour, which ESSENCE will talk about this week.

We are going to have a "virtual" interview with Ms. Henderson to get to know her better! Stay with us, this may go fast. (interview will be in the comments)

Alba, how long have you been in business?