THE WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS PROGRAM       BY THE YEAR 2000, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WOMEN WILL OWN 50 % OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES (UP FROM APPROXIMATELY 38 IN 1996.)   NCDC CREATED THE WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS PROJECT TO TRAIN WOMEN ON TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) ON HOW TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES.  THIS PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED T ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF WOMEN WHO ARE FACING A TWO YEAR DEADLINE ON WELFARE.  SELF-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING IS AN IMPORTANT OPTION FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE TWO YEARS TO DEVELOP THE SKILL TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LB 144, ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LB 327, THE MICRO ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT ACT PROVIDED THE FUNDING FOR THE WMB PROJECT. WMB PARTICIPANTS MEET FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR SIX WEEKS FOR APPROXIMATELY NINETY HOURS OF TRAINING.  THE FIRST CLASS OF TRAINING BEGAN ON MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1998 AND WAS COMPLETED ON FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1998.  TRAINING IS HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL ASSOCIATES AT BAKER PLACE.  THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES BUSINESS BASICS AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING AND LEARNING HOW TO OVERCOME POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO SUCCESS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD INCLUDING CREDIT REPAIR, LEGAL ISSUES AND HEALTH CONCERNS.  TRAINING ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION ON BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS TIME AND STRESS MANAGEMENT, CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING AND PERSONAL FINANCES. GRADUATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BUSINESS LOANS UP TO $1,000 ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE TRAINING AND THEIR BUSINESS PLAN. GRADUATES WILL CONTINUE TO MEET ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH THEMSELVES AND PROJECT COORDINATOR, JULIE KALKOWSKI.   "BEFORE THIS CLASS, I WAS HOME MAKING EXCUSES WITH MANY BARRIERS BLOCKING MY FUTURE AND MY LIFE.  THIS CLASS HAS HELPED ME WORK THROUGH AND AROUND MY MOUNTAIN OF STAGNATION T A CLEAR IDEA OF THERE I WANT TO GO.  NOW, I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING AND HOW I'M GOING TO GET THERE." ROVINE ALLEN, CLASS GRADUATE JUNE 5, 1998