Background

The Good Work Network was incorporated in March 2001 and received 501(c) (3) status in December 2001. The mission of the organization is to help minority and women owned businesses start, grow and succeed. It envisions a community where the economy is diverse and inclusive and where all dedicated and competent entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need to succeed. Good Work Network is the primary provider of business development services for the small community-based businesses that support families and sustain communities. Good Work Network educates, coaches and supports these smaller businesses to help them improve their skills, realize their full potential and become active participants in the local economy. Good Work Network has operated micro enterprise development programs for the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service Office of Community Development, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the City of New Orleans, and the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. Good Work Network is committed to being accountable to these and it many other funders. As part of this commitment Good Work Network participates in the Aspen Institute Micro Test program that measures the effectiveness of micro enterprise development organizations nationally. Since its inception, Good Work network has been providing business development services to a client base that is 92% African American, 69% female, and 67% low-income. It has assisted over 1,900 individuals, helped start 300 minority or women owned businesses, and assisted clients in acquiring $2,000,000 in business capital. Since Good Work Network began counting job creation in 2006, over 340 jobs have been created by the businesses Good Work Network has assisted. GWN services eight parishes, including: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist. The median age of clients is 38 and the average household income is $25,665. The organization has a talented staff of ten individuals all of whom have business backgrounds. It offices are located on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans. Good Work Network has purchased the Franz Building on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. and is in the process of restoring this historic building. The renovated building will provide office space for Good Work Network's and an expanded Business Resource Center which will include a computer lab, a training facility, and office incubator space. The building will also provide affordable retail space for minority or women owned businesses.

Organizational Structure

Good Work Network is a Louisiana non-profit corporation and a 501(c) (3) organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors whose members are very active in guiding the mission of the organization and in raising the capital to fund its programs. Operations of the organization are managed by a President / CEO. Other staff consists of an Executive Vice President, IT Services Director, Member Services Director, Program Director, Accounting Services Director, Business Development Director, Social Enterprise Director, Marketing Services Director, Administrative Assistant, Receptionist, Program Coordinator, and four Business Counselors. Independent contractors are used as needed as professional service providers and training facilitators. A volunteer corps is used for industry specific counseling and mentoring. Volunteers from the business schools of local universities are also used on various projects. The Good Work Network staff brings a broad range of experience in business development, information technology, accounting and finance, social enterprise, marketing, training, and grant management. As a whole, Good Work Network's staff has witnessed the community's continued economic inequity and the pervasive effects this has had on low- come families. They understand the nuances of the specific target area and have training that allows them to view these realities from the broad perspective of community building. They have led Good Work Network to develop systems and an organizational structure to support successful program development and implementation.

Collaborations

GWN strongly believes in working through collaborations and as a result GWN has an active role in many collaborations. GWN is a member the Collaborative for Enterprise Development (CED) which includes NewCorp Business Assistance Center, Capital Access Project and Idea Village. CED is funded by LDRF in order to ensure that all levels of micro enterprises receive the services they need. GWN is also an active member in the Bridge to Quality Childcare Collaborative which has the goal to assist eight childcare centers receive at least a 3 star rating on the Quality Start Childcare Rating System. This collaborative is funded by the Hilton Foundation and other partners include Institute for Mental Hygiene and the United Way. Additionally, GWN founded the Green Collaborative which is a monthly gathering of green building organizations in New Orleans which include City of New Orleans, LRA, Alliance for Affordable Energy, Make It Right, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, USGBC, LSU Ag Center, HBA and others. GWN is also a member of the Central City Collaborative which works to improve the quality of life of Central City residents. Participating organizations include the Ashe Cultural Center, Central City Renaissance Alliance, NONDC and other neighborhood organizations and citizens.