(Delray Beach, Fla.- Oct. 5, 2007) – The Wachovia Foundation has donated $10,000 to the Florida Women’s Business Center, a program devoted to helping socially and economically disadvantaged women start or grow their own business. 

Wachovia is committed to building strong and vibrant communities, improving quality of life, and making a positive difference in the community. It focuses on two key priorities: improving education and strengthening neighborhoods. The FWBC provides training, counseling, resources, referrals, support, and advocacy to women seeking to create, sustain, or grow micro businesses.

The FWBC is the result of a 750,000 grant in 2004 from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office (SBA) of Women's Business Ownership. Wachovia’s donation will be matched, dollar-for-dollar as part of the SBA grant.  The SBA funding is only accessible after the FWBC raises funds independently through donations. The center relies on the generosity of the community to help meet its matching fund goals.  For more information or to make a donation, please call 866-353-3790.

The FWBC is a program of The Center for Technology, Enterprise and Development, Inc. (TED Center). The TED Center was incorporated in October 1992 as a nonprofit charitable and educational Community Development Corporation (CDC) organization.  The TED Center is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs gain the knowledge and technical skills necessary to begin and grow their businesses. The center offers minority, youth, women-owned, and small and disadvantaged businesses the right mixes of resources at each stage of the development cycle.  To learn more, visit www.TEDCenter.org.

Photo above: From left to right are: Keith Bell,  Vice President, Sr. Community Development Officer (Wachovia Bank), Seabron A. Smith, Executive Director (TED Center), Jennifer Brin, Director (Florida Women’s Business Center), Tony Newbold, Chair, TED Center Board of Directors (Florida Power and Light Company), Elizabeth Arevalo, Vice President, Manager, Marketing and Community Relations (Wachovia Bank)