Economic Opportunity Center Inc

THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER SEEKS TO MITIGATE THE SKILLS GAP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE WORKFORCE AND EMPLOYERS, AS WELL AS PREPARE THE WORKFORCE AND GROWING ENTREPRENEURS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMIC SYSTEMS, WHILE CREATING NEW SYSTEMS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE.

THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER WILL OPERATE AS A CAREER AND PERSONAL FINANCE SERVICE CENTER; PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER COUNSELING, ONE ON ONE FINANCIAL COACHING AND EDUCATION, AND LOW-COST FINANCIAL PRODUCTS THAT BUILD CREDIT, SAVINGS AND ASSETS. INTEGRATED OR "BUNDLED" SERVICES LEAD TO CONCRETE GAINS IN NET INCOME AND JOB RETENTION. ADDITIONALLY, LONG TERM JOB RETENTION - HOLDING A JOB FOR A YEAR OR MORE - ALMOST DOUBLES WHEN FINANCIAL COACHING REINFORCES THE WORK OF EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR IS TO STIMULATE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND GROWTH OF SMALL BUSINESSES, WITH A FOCUS ON PROTECTING GROUPS SUCH AS MINORITY OR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND BUSINESS THAT TARGET LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES ORIGINATING AND DEVELOPING IN THE AREA. THE BUSINESS INCUBATOR IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT OF THE AREA THAT WOULD BE A MEANS TO CREATE NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR AREA RESIDENTS, CREATE HIGHER WAGE JOBS, CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES, AND AS A SOURCE TO GENERATE NEW TAX REVENUE FOR NORTH CHARLESTON.