Millcreek residents looking to start a business have a shot at free training through a 15-week program that accepts women from across the Wasatch Front.
The Banking on Women program, coordinated by the nonprofit Utah Microloan Fund and sponsored by Synchrony Bank, teaches participants how to write a business plan, conduct market research and understand their finances. Women in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis and Weber counties attend Tuesday evening classes at Westminster University. Those elsewhere in the state can join virtually on Wednesday evenings.
The program accepts 30 women per session and runs twice a year. As many as 100 women apply each round, Sara Day, program director with the Utah Microloan Fund, told The Salt Lake Tribune. Day encouraged those who are not accepted to reapply for a future session.
Women from 23 of Utah's 29 counties have participated since the program launched in 2010, Day said. Graduates who complete all requirements receive a $300 microgrant from Synchrony Bank, according to the Utah Microloan Fund's website.
The program addresses a gap in Utah's business landscape. Only about 16% of Utah businesses are women-owned, ranking the state 45th nationally, according to a 2025 Utah State University report. That report pointed to barriers including limited access to capital, childcare challenges and a lack of mentors.
One graduate, Halee Windley, a medical assistant who wanted to open a food truck, said she did not know where to begin. "I can start an IV, but I can't start a business," Windley joked about her previous mindset, according to the Tribune. She completed the program and launched Taste Spuds, a potato catering business that brings in about $4,000 a month in revenue.
The Utah Microloan Fund can also help with funding after the program ends, Day said. The fund works with early-stage businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank loans.
Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. and are available at utahmicroloanfund.org/bankingonwomen.
