SBEC partners with Consulate of Mexico in Leamington to provide programming for women entrepreneurs

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre/Media Release

Today, the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (SBEC), a division of Invest WindsorEssex (IWE), together with the Consulate of Mexico in Leamington signed a letter of intent for a partnership to provide programming for women’s entrepreneurship in Windsor-Essex.

The partnership will provide a collaborative framework to address barriers faced by women of our region through advancement of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. 

This initiative has expanded from a pilot program that was launched in October 2021 by the Consulate of Mexico in Leamington. The organization started an entrepreneur program for Mexican women living in Windsor-Essex to provide them with the basics of starting and growing a business. The program is in collaboration with the Thunderbird School of Global Management at the University of Arizona and the Consulate of Mexico in Phoenix.

During this pilot, the women completed the DreamBuilder Course online to learn the foundation for starting a business. Topics included planning, marketing, pricing, management, setting goals and more. The Consulate provided support to both start-ups and growing businesses throughout the program and also provided mentors and professionals in all areas of expertise to help them develop their business plan. 

The partnership with the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre has expanded the pilot program to provide further resources, workshops, platforms and activities to promote women’s entrepreneurship in Windsor-Essex. 

Quotes

“The SBEC has a longstanding history of supporting and empowering individuals to contribute to the Windsor-Essex economy by launching their own independent ventures. We are delighted to be formalizing our partnership with the Mexican Consulate in Leamington which will see us pooling our resources and networks together to better serve the Mexican community; particularly women who are demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirt and innovative ideas by starting new businesses.” – Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre

“The Government of Mexico welcomes the opportunity to join efforts with the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre a division of Invest Windsor-Essex to develop and strengthen initiatives to support small business, especially women entrepreneurs in the region. This collaboration allows us to combine resources to better serve the Mexican community that has made Windsor-Essex their home and place of business, contributing with the creation of jobs and opportunities.“ – Vanessa Calva Ruiz, Consul of Mexico, Consulate of Mexico Leamington

About Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre operates as a division of Invest WindsorEssex in partnership with the Province of Ontario’s Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. SBEC provides thousands of entrepreneurs with the training and support necessary to start and grow successful businesses in Windsor and Essex County.

About Consulate of Mexico in Leamington

The Consulate of Mexico in Leamington is the official representation of the Government of Mexico in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. As part of the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, its aim is to assist Mexican nationals through various activities, including the issuance of documents, provide information and, promote their development through culture, arts, entrepreneurship and community activities. consulmex.sre.gob.mx/leamington

Media Contacts

Natasha Marar
Manager, Marketing & Entrepreneurship Programs 
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre 
Phone: 519-253-6900 Ext. 2231
Mobile: 519-995-6780
Email: nmarar@webusinesscentre.com

Graciela Olivera
Office of the Consul
Consulate of Mexico in Leamington
Phone: 519-325-1460 Ext. 222
Email: asistentelea@sre.gob.mx