On August 1, local Department of Social Services (DSS) directors, Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) representatives, and others convened at the Dorchester County DSS to honor three entrepreneurs from Maryland’s Upper Shore; Talisha Dodd of Talbot County was among the three praised for distinction.
Steve Benden, Director of Strategy and Performance with the Department of Human Services, commended the honorees’ participation in the Public Assistance to Entrepreneurship (PA2E) Strategy. The program, inspired by Harvard Business School research, was designed to provide business development training, tools, and techniques to individuals that are currently receiving public assistance who also have dreams of owning a business while driving economic development. Benden also praised the SBDC for their partnership, as they provided valuable training to the program graduates.
Linda Webb, Director of Talbot County DSS, was quick to praise Ms. Dodd. “The drive and initiative shown by Talisha in the PA2E program serve as a wonderful example to us all of setting and achieving goals,” she remarked, adding “Talisha’s new business is an asset to the Talbot County community.” Talisha Dodd successfully runs her own cleaning services business.
This PA2E strategy has demonstrated its ability to enhance and expand Maryland’s current workforce development programs to provide resources and training to individuals receiving assistance with the ultimate goal of independently supporting themselves and their families.
DHS—the Maryland Department of Human Services—is the state’s primary social service provider, serving more than one million people annually. Through its 24 local departments of social services, DHS pursues opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide preventive services, and protect vulnerable children and adults in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. Additional information may be found at www.dhs.maryland.gov, or on Facebook and Twitter.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.