It has long been my heart's desire to create financial resources for entrepreneurs in our community.

Finding money to start and expand businesses is a challenge for many in Cayuga County, especially for women.

When my grandmother Theresa Mary Pelosi Skoda passed away, my aunt sent each of the grandchildren $1,000.

I thought about what could be done with this small amount of money to honor Grandma and Grandpa Skoda.

I recalled stories they told about attending gatherings of their Italian and Slovak communities for the purpose of pooling funds to support another family's business plan.

A restaurant and a funeral home were established with the funds pitched-in. There were no expectations of any return to those who contributed.

With the help of Ann Petrus, David Stapleton, Tracy Higginbotham, Gwen Webber- McLeod and Roberta Williams, I was lead to the solution; an irrevocable trust, established to secure small business loans for the benefit of women with worthwhile business plans to establish or expand a business located in the County of Cayuga, New York.

Thanks to the inheritance from my grandparents, together with the generous contributions from friends at City Hall and area business owners, an irrevocable trust was established at Cayuga Lake National Bank in Union Springs.

On Friday, March 28, 2008, at A Room Full of Sisters, thanks to Laura Coburn and Melina Carnicelli, women pooled their cash, checks and pledges to add $6,120 to the trust.

My heart is happy and full with gratitude.

Thanks to this community; employees at City Hall, business owners, Cayuga Lake National Bank and a room full of generous sisters, a new resource has been established; The Cayuga Women's Business Trust.

I invite you to join us in helping women in Cayuga County get on board the train of economic self-sufficiency.

Cynthia Aikman

Auburn