Helping women become business owners is the focus of a nine-month series involving the $370 million People's Credit Union.

The Middletown, R.I.-based CU is collaborating with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and the Center for Women & Enterprise to sponsor the 2011-2012 Strong Woman Business Series.

Starting on Sept. 13 at the King Center in Newport, nine monthly sessions will focus on women who want to start or grow a business. By the end of the series, each participant will have created a business plan.

People's CU will lead seven of the nine sessions at their Middletown location where employees will discuss taking control of personal finances, the market, marketing strategies and financial statements. Each session will include dinner provided by People's CU.

“Helping women in our community become financially independent and financially successful is so important,” said Courtney Hunter, membership relationship manager at People's CU.

In addition to the CU and both centers, the Strong Woman Business Series is funded by the Miss Swinburne Fund of the Rhode Island Foundation, Newport Public Library, Newport Hospital and Salve Regina University.