Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Mission

At the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE), our mission is to make small business ownership possible for people in rural and underserved communities across Washington. When individuals have the skills and support to turn their ideas into businesses, they gain more than income: they gain the knowledge, dignity, and independence they need to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. 

Since 2013, CIE has served 3,000+ entrepreneurs across Washington and helped launch or strengthen 300+ businesses. CIE focuses on supporting low-income and rural entrepreneurs who face the greatest barriers to starting and growing a business — not for lack of drive or talent, but because mainstream resources weren’t designed with them in mind. These resource gaps translate to real opportunity gaps:

• Latinos make up 14% of Washington’s population but own just 6.5% of small businesses.

• Indigenous Americans represent 3.5% of the state population but own only 1.5% of small businesses.

• In rural areas, small business employment grew just 0.7% between 2012 and 2022 — compared to 12.4% in metropolitan areas. 

For the entrepreneurs behind these numbers, the right support at the right time can make all the difference. That is the driving vision behind CIE and why we need your support this #GiveBIG.

Description

Every small business is as unique as the person who first imagined it, but most small business services are static and one-size-fits-all. CIE offers practical small business training and one-on-one advising built to adapt to each entrepreneur's unique story, circumstances, and goals. Clients set the direction of their entrepreneurial journey; CIE helps them get there. CIE Business Advisors partner with clients to build a realistic plan, forecast and work through obstacles, connect with financing and other resources, and learn from business owners and mentors who have navigated the same road.

START SIMPLE 

Start Simple is our foundational course, offered in English and Spanish. Over four sessions, participants learn core business concepts — budgeting, pricing, cash flow, and feasibility — and receive hands-on guidance to assess whether their idea is ready to move forward. No prior business experience required.

COMADRES

Comadres is a Spanish-language program designed specifically for Latina entrepreneurs. Over four weekend sessions, participants work through financial planning, recordkeeping, and revenue projections alongside a peer community of women on the same path.

ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

One-on-one technical assistance is available to every entrepreneur who completes our courses. CIE Business Advisors provide ongoing, personalized support to each entrepreneur as kitchen-table ideas grow into real businesses that support families and strengthen communities. When a business is ready to scale, we connect clients to the next level of support.

Success Story

Hortencia, Walla Walla — Pick Me Up Cafe

Hortencia has been building her bakery in Walla Walla for over 5 years. When she joined CIE, her business was growing, but her equipment couldn't keep pace with customer demand. She needed a commercial refrigerator to expand her capacity, but purchasing one outright wasn't feasible.

That's where CIE made the difference. Working closely with her CIE Business Advisor Cinthya, Hortencia learned about a CIE equipment grant that helped her access the funding she needed. That grant removed a real barrier, giving Hortencia the production capacity she needed to serve more customers and take her business to the next level. She felt the difference immediately. 

"Now I can sell more," she told us with pride.

Your Support

CIE's goal for GiveBIG is $10,000. Every dollar raised goes directly toward supporting Washington entrepreneurs who are doing the hard work of building a business and a livelihood.

Here is what your gift makes possible:

• $50 covers course materials for one entrepreneur

• $100 enrolls one entrepreneur in Start Simple or Comadres

• $500 provides one entrepreneur up to 10 hours of coaching

No matter the amount, your contribution invests in someone who is taking a serious step toward financial independence — and in the communities that grow stronger when local businesses reflect the cultures, stories, and values that make them special. This GiveBIG, join us in making that possible. #GiveBig #It’sUpToUs