Travelers’ Small Business Risk Education Program Launched in Chicago

The Travelers Companies Inc. announced the launch of the Small Business Risk Education (SBRE) program in Chicago to help women and minority small business owners learn about risk management, develop safety risk management plans, and qualify for microloans.

According to the Small Business Administration, 47 percent of all jobs in Chicago are created by small companies.

Through partnerships with the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), one of the nation’s largest women’s business centers focused on creating jobs and fueling economic growth through business ownership, and Accion, a global nonprofit organization that supports microfinance institutions to provide financial services to low-income clients, Travelers is offering:

• Increased awareness of the most common safety risks faced by small business owners; and
• Training and education focused on risk management and business continuity planning.

Participants in the program will receive one-on-one assistance from Travelers and WBDC business experts to complete a risk management plan. In addition, participating businesses may be eligible to apply for microloans through Accion to support capital investments related to risk management, sustainability and growth.

SBRE is part of Travelers’ broader commitment to small business advocacy and economic opportunity.

In 2012, Travelers piloted the SBRE program in Los Angeles in partnership with the Valley Economic Development Center, California’s largest microfinancing organization.

Earlier this week, the Travelers Institute, the public policy division of Travelers, took its “Small Business – Big Opportunity” tour to Boston to discuss small business challenges and highlight solutions with leading economic and small business thought leaders.

Travelers plans to expand the SBRE program to additional markets in 2014.

Source: Travelers Companies Inc.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance New Markets Training Development Risk Management