SunTrust Presents $15,000 to Goodwill’s MicroEnterprise Institute

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. - March 12, 2013 - PRLog -- SunTrust Bank presented The Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute with a $15,000 check on March 8, 2013 at the Goodwill headquarters in North Fort Myers. The money will be used to fund a small startup loan pool which will be available for eligible MicroEnterprise program graduates, as well as for support of upcoming MicroEnterprise sessions.

“We really appreciate SunTrust’s involvement in The MicroEnterprise Institute,” says Fred Richards, Vice President of Career Development Services at Goodwill. “The money will really go a long way.”

The MicroEnterprise Institute is a six-week program which helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop skills and training needed to run their own small business. Mentors work directly with participants to help the potential small business owners prepare a business plan.

“The MicroEnterprise Institute affects people right here in the Southwest Florida community,” says Madison Mitchell, spokesperson for Goodwill. “Thanks to supporters like SunTrust Bank, 109 individuals have graduated from the program. We hope that by providing this training and ways of funding, the MicroEnterprise Institute will spark economic growth right here in our community.”

The Goodwill SWFL MicroEnterprise Institute is administered by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc.  Persons interested in applying to the Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise project, or who would like to mentor future small business owners may call (239)995-2106 ext. 2219.  Visit http://www.goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise for more information.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. serves Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties, and helps people with disabilities and other disadvantages overcome their barriers to employment and independence.  Programs supported by Goodwill include Job-Link, career training and placement, the L.I.F.E. Academy Charter School, income-subsidized housing for senior citizens and people with disabilities, and others.  More information is available at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.