WORC in the News
Transformative leader: Iola Harper wants to continue to help Philly businesses grow
Iola Harper is a West Philadelphia native who is the executive director of the Women’s Opportunities Resource Center also called WORC. Since becoming executive director of the nonprofit earlier this year, Harper aims to help businesses in the city continue to grow.
The organization was recently awarded a grant from Gov. Josh Shapiro to expand its work into the suburban counties of Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester, through a training hub. Harper and the organization are excited to expand their work to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in those areas.
“Under the training hub we’re going to offer multiple services to not only Philadelphia but the five counties surrounding Philadelphia,” Harper said. “I’m honored that we were selected as one of 11 business services centers in Pennsylvania.”
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Women’s Opportunities Resource Center announces leadership changes
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The Women’s Opportunities Resource Center, or WORC, announced a leadership transition early last week.
Founder and president Lynne Cutler will become the executive board chair and reputed economic development director Iola Harper will take charge as WORC’s executive director.
Cutler told The Tribune that the move was to ensure that the agency moves forward and expands its current client base. She will manage the agency’s more external duties such as board development and policy. She and Harper said they hope this transition will double the number of people it serves annually, reinstate their former accessible state-collaborated savings program, and grow its loan fund from $9 million to $20 million.
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Awards and Honors
WORC NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AWARDS
Vestedin (2025)
Greater Philadelphia Innovation Award, Small Business Development (2019)
Innovation in Technology Award, Association for Enterprise Opportunity (2005)
Presidential Award for Excellence in Micro-enterprise Development: Poverty Alleviation, U.S. Department of Treasury (2001)