In support of our mission, Partners for Self-Employment offers three key programs to local communities - The Peer Program, The Entrepreneurial Training Institute and The Match Savings Funds. These programs work with each other to increase financial awareness and stability for our clients and their families and are designed to foster individual and collective financial success within Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The Peer Program - Entrepreneurial and financial literacy education and micro-business loans starting from $750 to $5,000, without credit or collateral to qualified low and moderate-income residents of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. PSE uses an empowering Peer Lending Model, designed around the notion of contributing sound business advice and financial consultation to those who seek to enhance their personal and financial futures, but do not have access to all the necessary resources.

This model is inspired by Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus of the Gramen Bank, who was named the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner for his work in micro lending.

Our peer program provides these program participants with business loans varying from $750.00 to $5,000.00 to aid them in actualizing their business concepts and relies on the peer group members to make all of the lending decisions, who also serve as officers in the peer groups. This method inspires residents, who have historically been marginalized to take part and increase their confidence by taking on leadership roles within the groups and becoming more involved with their communities. PSE's peer-lending model promote self-reliance and collaboration, which are the twin cornerstones in successful and sustainable community development.

The Entrepreneurial Institute - 8-12 week course in business management, using the participants' own financial records. Participants who complete the course are eligible for expansion loans up to $35,000. The Entrepreneurial Training Institute is an intense 8-12 week business training course that provides residents with various tools for successful business management - financial advice, business model assistance, networking opportunities and many more.

These tools allow individuals to not only seek advice on how to accomplish their goals, but they also provide actual financial capital to make business concepts a reality. Once participants complete the program, they are able to expand their businesses with the aid of access to financial capital, in the form of loans of up to $35,000.00.

The Matched Savings Fund - Financial literacy training and a 2:1 match for each dollar saved each month towards a home or business up to $1,000 per year. (Available to low-income legal residents of Miami-Dade County only.) PSE's Match Saving Fund program fosters a belief in people and their abilities to not only dream, but to make those dreams come to life. Eligible households are able to participate in a program that will match two dollars for every dollar saved to a maximum of $1,000.00 per year. These funds are to then be allocated to the household or individual for the down payment of a home or to expand a small business.

Households eligible to participate in the program include those eligible for TANF or the Earned Income Tax Credit (ETIC), and persons whose income over the previous year was less than 200% of the current poverty guidelines based on the 2000 Census. Eligible households must also be below net worth of $10,000 excluding primary residence and one motor vehicle. The Matched Savings Fund cannot contribute more than $2,000 per year to an individual or more than $4,000 per household per year for a maximum of two years.