The Microenterprise Program was created in April 2001 in response to recurring requests for professional training and assistance to help refugee and immigrant women start or strengthen their own businesses.[5] In 2005, RWN added a micro-lending component to the program, which gives loans between $250 and $15,000 to women entrepreneurs.[6] The Microenterprise Program provides business development training, microloans, one-on-one business consultation and technical assistance to refugee and immigrant women who are working to start or strengthen their businesses. The goal of the Microenterprise and Microfinance Program is to help refugee and immigrant women and their families attain economic self-sufficiency through self-employment.