RELATED TOOLS RELATED ITEMS Table: Microenterprise Agencies Finance Archive Online Extras

Valentin Feliciano, who runs his own security company, Citywide Security Services Inc., in New York City, wanted to "give back" to the small-business community from which he'd drawn his own success.  Similarly, Michael Shaughnessy, publisher and co-owner (with his wife Marianne) of Red Crane Books Inc., in Santa Fe, N.M was interested in sharing his business and management expertise with others.

Both small business owners are established entrepreneurs in their own right who are working with units of Accion New York and Accion International, the nation's largest microenterprise development agency. Like many other microlenders, Accion offers easy-term, small loans, usually $30,00 and under, to help people become self-sufficient through entrepreneurship. These groups also offer basic business training and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs get started.

Feliciano, a native of Puerto Rico, identifies with the Hispanic target audience of Accion New York. He serves on the microlending agency's board and has helped the group network with Hispanic banks. O'Shaughnessy, who studied at the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Ariz., got involved with the organization's international efforts and helped to fund its start-up operation in Chile. O'Shaughnessy also pushed to bring the organization to the U.S. and has been on its U.S. board for 16 years. For the past two years, he has also been helping Accion upgrade its computer equipment and other technology.

How can you get involved? It doesn't matter what industry you're in or where you live. You can donate equipment money, and services, act as a mentor or help these agencies network in the business community.   Deborah Slayton, director of lending at the Arkansas Enterprise Group in Arkadelphia, Ark., says help from area business people "runs the gamut from advice about managing financial assistance to plant layout to managing production. Our women mentors work with [women] entrepreneurs one on one, helping them with anything from business planning to implementation."

Here's a sampling of organizations that would be more than willing to take your help. (For a complete listing of microenterprise development programs, contact The Aspen Institute and ask for its   "1999 Directory of U.S. Microenteprise Programs."  Rearch them at One Dupont Circle, N.W., 7th floor, Washington, DC 20036

Voice: (202) 736-5800; fax: (202) 467-0790; web: www.aspeninst.org)

Microenterprise Agency Contact Info Target Audience 1999 Budget Major Focus Accion New York 718-599-5170 www.accion.org Hispanics, low income $651,697 Microlending Detroit Entrepreneurship Institute 313-961-8426 www.deibus.org Women, minorities $1.7 million Training, technical help Arkansas Enterprise Group 870-246-9739 www.arenterprise.org Women, unemployed $3.5 million Lending, training Institute for Social & Economic Development Iowas City, Iowa 319-338-2331 www.ised.org Women, minorities $2 million Technical help Self-Help 919-956-4400 www.self-help.org Minorities, rural residents $5.8 million Lending Trickle Up 212-362-7958 www.trickleup.org Startup microentrepreneurs $2.4 million Seed capital grants Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore 410-727-4921 Women, low income $584,000 Training, technical help Women's Initiative for Self-Employment San Francisco 415-247-9473 Web site under construction Bay Area low income women $1.6 million Training, financing DATA: The Aspen Institute