TED Center receives $5,000 donation from National City

Published July 1st, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

The Center for Technology, Enterprise and Development, Inc. (TED Center), a small business resource for women entrepreneurs, has received a $5,000 donation from National City Bank.

The donation to the Delray Beach-based firm will help fund its Florida Women’s Business Center (FWBC), a program devoted to helping socially and economically disadvantaged women start or grow their own businesses.

“The donation from National City will enable the TED Center to continue offering valuable resources for every stage of the business development cycle, making it more convenient for those seeking to create, sustain, or grow micro businesses,” said Executive Director Seabron Smith. “Ultimately, this will allow us to continue offering our business counseling and training services free of charge, and help us support those who are financially disadvantaged.”

The FWBC program is the result of a $750,000 grant in 2004 from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership. National City’s donation will be matched, dollar-for-dollar as part of the SBA grant. 

The SBA funding is only accessible after the FWBC raises funds independently through donations. The center relies on the generosity of the community to help meet its matching fund goals.

“National City shares a common goal with the TED Center: to provide resources that will help women-owned business flourish,” said Jay Shearouse, market president of National City’s Southeast Florida region.  “Our annual WEDO (Women’s Economic Development Outreach) tour provides thousands of women business owners with access to ideas and information on business financing, market research, sales strategies and other topics designed to fuel business growth.”

The donation is part of National City’s ongoing effort to be a contributing member of the community. National City has designated a charitable fund of $2 million to be used and administered exclusively in Southeast Florida.