WREN began in 1994, with an ambitious plan to create an 8-month training and support program to assist 12 very low-income women in achieving their dreams of business ownership. By the spring of 1995, these WREN pioneers were operating their own enterprises. Encouraged by the positive results from this pilot project, we began building what we today refer to as the 'WREN Community'.

Fifteen years later, WREN is a membership-driven organization with over 900 members, men and women living in New England and beyond, who benefit from and support WREN's many initiatives and resources, including Local Works, our  retail store featuring the products of nearly 200 vendors, the Gallery at WREN, the Local Works Farmers Market and Outdoor Marketplace, our WINGS program for girls 8-14, our incubator office program and our public access technology center. Over the past 14 years, we have assisted more than 1600 business owners. 56% of our members fall within low or moderate income categories. Nearly 400 of our members currently operate their own businesses.

WREN inspires possibilities, creates opportunities and builds connections through community. Our work connects people with one another, provides access to resources many couldn't afford on their own, offers learning opportunities including entrepreneurial business training and technical assistance, creates and supports markets for entrepreneurs, actively engages in Bethlehem's revitalization, and serves a national model for rural economic and community development.