Des Moines creates an enabling environment for women in the City by ensuring a low cost of living and a strong business community that offers opportunities for them to thrive. Besides, education and training opportunities available for women increase their skills and knowledge thus preparing them to enhance their professional growth.
DSM USA Opportunities
DSM stands for Des Moines. DSM USA is a welcoming and diverse community with easily accessible and affordable amenities for women as well as their businesses. It works towards creating an environment for female entrepreneurs to thrive by building relationships through events and conferences meant to facilitate their success in the small business startup world. Through DSM USA Career Center, women are able to find internship and career opportunities that are available throughout Greater Des Moines (DSM) by allowing them to:
- Create professional profiles so that prospective employers can find them.
- Search for current job openings in DSM.
Visit the DSM Career Center website at https://www.careersdsmusa.com/.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership
This economic and community development organization that seeks to drive forward the economic growth of Des Moines by supporting women’s owned businesses through encouraging innovation, collaboration among partners, and strategic planning. The partnership also grows business opportunities for women and creates jobs, thus enabling them to enhance their careers and future. Visit https://www.dsmpartnership.com/ for more information.
Partnership Goals
The partnership goals aim to facilitate the growth of Des Moines’ prosperity as well as global connectivity by encouraging collaborations with local partners to assist new women-owned businesses. It also works to ensure an increase in the number of talented and skilled women in the workforce and to ensure they can thrive in today’s economy. Through its areas of work, the organization ensures that true partnership between businesses, the government, and the public thus improving the quality of life of women in the City. Visit https://www.dsmpartnership.com/about to learn more.
Women’s Mentoring Day
During Women Mentoring Day, several events are held across Des Moines City. These events are meant to empower women to build strong networks, leadership skills, and support. The events are also platforms where women’s owned businesses are supported to enable them to prosper and compete in today’s market. Join the events on Women’s Mentoring Day at https://www.dsmpartnership.com/calendars/mentoring-for-women.
Women Lead Change
This is a non-profit organization established to foster promotion, advancement, and development of women, as well as their organizations, to enable them to grow and prosper. With support from the DSM USA partnership, the organization has managed to bring women together and improve their skills in business management.
FemCity Des Moines
FemCity create local business workshops and innovative social event designed to empower women and enable their businesses to grow. Being a member of FemCity has both online and locally made benefits for women who participate in its programs it has over 150 business members who are committed to collaborating and gaining business ideas from one another. Becoming one of the participants gives your business a chance of topping other women every day. Join FemCity at https://femcity.com/des-moines.
Pro-Business Climate
The City of Des Moines has created a friendly and pro-business climate that creates opportunities for women to grow and expand their business. The Mayor, City Council, and staff have nurtured the entrepreneurial spirit. This has fostered partnerships between private and public sectors this creating jobs and business opportunities for women in the city. The City encourages the existence of businesses that enhance employment opportunities.
Dress for Success – Job Training
This is an organization that is meant to support women to address the problems they face every day in securing employment. Participants are empowered to continue and succeed in the process of looking for jobs through the resources made available to them. Other services include:
- Opportunity to meet local employers.
- Assistance in resume development.
- Access to one-on-one mentoring.
- Individual strengths assessment.
- Access to completion incentive.
Suits to Success Program
Suits to Success Program provides enable women to obtain whatever they need for job interviews from decent clothing to improving their confidence and can return after securing a job to access what they need to enter the workforce. It provides every member with complete interview ensemble such as a suit, blouse, hosiery, shoes, purse, jewelry as well as a portfolio for the interview. Join the program at https://desmoines.dressforsuccess.org/programs/suiting/.
Employment Retention
After completing the first step of securing a job, the program works to support women in retaining their jobs and developing further their professional skills. This ensures that every woman is moving towards sustainable careers and their financial independence.
Single Mothers Assistance
Life as a single mom is always challenging. There are however several options and benefits for single moms in the form of grants to help them survive in the tough and competitive economy. Iowa’s state programs such as Iowa Earned Income Tax, Iowa Family’s Investment Program, and Iowa Childcare Assistance are more significant in helping single mothers cope with their day-to-day struggles.
Housing Assistance for Single Mothers
Des Moines Human Services Housing Solutions provides Housing Funding for homeless single moms with minor children under their care. The program provides partial and temporary rental support to program participants. All single mothers referred to the Housing solutions must come from primary healthcare and currently be in a family shelter. Visit https://www.wdm.iowa.gov/government/human-services/programs-services/housing-solutions-program for more information.