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WORC in the News

Local elected officials join community and civic leaders Wednesday in Yeadon to present nearly $600,000 in grant funding for a new small business assistance center as part of a larger statewide initiative. (Courtesy Brandon Ballard of BrandonCaptures)

WORC gets nearly $600K to assist disadvantaged small businesses

By  | arose@delcotimes.com | The Delaware County Daily Times
PUBLISHED: 

“In today’s economic climate, the need for small, vulnerable, and historically under-resourced businesses to access financial resources, technical support, and valuable networks to drive their growth and success are more important today than ever,” said WORC Executive Director Iola Harper in a news release. “We are truly proud to be selected as one of Governor Josh Shapiro’s Small Business Assistance Centers.”

The Shapiro administration has put more than $21 million into establishing 11 business assistant service centers across the commonwealth, according to the release. The WORC-headed location in Philadelphia will serve the city and four regional counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery.

A press conference announcing the centers was held at Pound Cake Heaven, a Yeadon business that has received support from WORC.  Click here to Read more

news-harper112525-01Transformative leader: Iola Harper wants to continue to help Philly businesses grow

Kylan Watson TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT |

 

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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Lynne CutlerWomen’s Opportunities Resource Center announces leadership changes

Kiara Santos TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER | 

 

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 AWARDSThree people posing at VestedIn event.

 

 

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)

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