Over the years budding business owners have received a major boost from the WIBO program. Now the system that has not only helped hundreds of entrepreneurs but also aided the local economy, will be expanded to selected cities across America. The magazine Alliance for Children & Families has taken notice. In a recent edition they wrote about the WIBO expansion based on the model developed in Bridgeport. There is also a sidebar article profiling the accomplishments of WIBO graduates including Bryant Johnson, Vyola Parker, Bonnie Lambert and Jeremy Brock.

http://magazine.alliance1.org/content/issue1-10/wibo

The success of the WIBO program in Connecticut will be the model as WIBO expands to several states in the next year or so. The details are being worked out now but the hope is the people with a good idea for starting or growing a business will be able to get 16 weeks of practical training and then go out and run a successful business.

The Honorable Susan Bysiewicz was the keynote speaker at the graduation celebration dinner on February 2 at Liedle’s in Stratford. She told the class of fall 2009 and their guests that she wants to help small businesses in Connecticut by removing the annual $250 corporate tax. she also said that 90% of the new jobs in the state come from the small companies with less than 50 employees. She delivered an impromptu speech that mentioned class president Carmen Nieves by name more than once and did her best to encourage the entrepreneurs in the room. Afterward she posed for photos with whoever wanted to stand next to her.
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch also gave a speech and praised the graduates for starting businesses during a period of a bad economy.