Southwestern college foundation

Southwestern College Foundation received a $150,000 Project Grant from the Small Business Administration's Office of Entrepreneurial Development under the Women's Business Ownership Assistance program (CFDA 59.043), awarded September 30, 2025, for a 12-month performance period through September 29, 2026. The grant supports the operation of the San Diego & Imperial Women's Business Center (WBC), which delivers comprehensive entrepreneurial development services to women-owned small businesses throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties. Services include business training, mentoring, business development counseling, financing assistance, and technical support to help women entrepreneurs start and expand their ventures, with particular emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged women business owners.

The San Diego & Imperial WBC, integrated within Southwestern College since 2018, serves as the primary service delivery mechanism for this award. Southwestern Community College District, doing business as Southwestern College, operates as the sub-grantee and implements these entrepreneurial support services within the regional community. This award represents a renewal or continuation of the WBC program and aligns with the SBA's national strategy to provide accessible, high-quality business development resources to underrepresented women entrepreneurs through a network of nonprofit and educational institutions operating Women's Business Centers across the United States and its territories.