EDASC’s Startup School receives Education First grant from WECU

The Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County (EDASC) is pleased to announce that its Startup School program has been awarded a $22,000 Education First grant from WECU. This funding will support the continued growth and expansion of the program, which provides essential business training to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in Skagit County.

Startup School is a 12-week program that offers participants foundational business knowledge, mentorship and networking opportunities. The curriculum covers topics such as business planning, marketing, finance and operations. The program is designed to help participants develop the skills and confidence they need to launch and grow successful businesses.

"This innovative program addresses the need of entrepreneurs for comprehensive yet easily accessible training in how to run a business. These skills are critical to the success of a business, yet are often mysterious to entrepreneurs,” EDASC CEO John Sternlicht said. “We are so pleased to be able to provide this tested curriculum to our community.”

The first cohort of Startup School, presented in Spanish, graduated 24 participants in June. The second cohort, presented in English, is currently under way with a class of 20.

The grant from WECU will help to fund Startup School operations over the next two years.

“Thanks to WECU for supporting this initiative, which empowers entrepreneurs in our community to achieve their dreams of becoming business owners," EDASC Equitable Economic Development Manager Jorge Estefan said. “WECU’s contribution helps create a brighter future not only for business owners and their families but also for future generations.”    

Other Education First grant awardees are Skagit Preschool and Resource Center (SPARC), Whatcom Literacy Council and Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY). WECU granted a total of $125,000. The Education First Grant Program was launched in 2019 to strategically focus WECU’s charitable giving on educational initiatives, reflecting the credit union’s deep-rooted history in education.