Waterford Township program aims to help women entrepreneurs start their companies

Waterford Township, Michigan – Before moving to Women In Business Working Center, Sonia Gonzalez ran a non-medical elder care services company out of her home.

“This is very important,” owner Gonzalez said. Happy@Home Non-medical Senior Care. “It gives you kind of a space where you can actually focus on everything you’re doing.”

Gonzalez is one of eight business owners working at the center. It aims to help women entrepreneurs get their companies off the ground.

Ayesha Branagh owns the center, which opened last month. waterford township.

“Three years ago, we started a networking group where we could meet monthly and socialize, and it grew,” Gonzalez said. “So we decided to find a space and become a hub.”

Branagh said the need is great. Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges, including a lack of resources and networks.

She knows the struggle well.

“Over the years, I’ve met so many amazing women who are doing everything from taxes to making shirts, but they didn’t have a place to ask questions like, ‘What should I do?'” Branner said.

The center houses a variety of companies.

“We have a tax firm,” Branagh said. “We run a T-shirt company. We have a woman who can write resumes for us.”

Branagh said business owners would only be able to set up offices there for up to 15 months.

In the meantime, she said, it will give them the tools to grow independently.

Gonzalez is grateful for the opportunity.

“She opened the door for me to achieve what I wanted,” Gonzalez said.

For Branagh, Waterford Township Center is just the beginning. She hopes to expand to more locations in the future.

“It’s been fun. I enjoy creating this for women,” Branagh said.

Click here to learn more about the Women In Business Working Center.