Washington, January 4, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – The US Small Business Administration today announced a financing grant and the historic launch of 20 new Women’s Business Centers (WBC) across America to serve rural, urban and underserved communities. The opening of the 20 new WBCs is the largest single expansion of WBCs across America in its 30-year term, and these centers will be essential to the success of women-owned businesses as they continue to recover during this period. WBCs will be hosted in rural and underserved markets and will expand their presence and partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“In the past few months, we have seen Women’s Business Centers provide help to innovative and determined entrepreneurs in our country, allowing countless small business owners to spin with confidence to stay afloat during the pandemic,” said SBA administrator Jovita Carranza . “The expansion of the WBC program is part of this administration’s longstanding commitment to the success of women entrepreneurs and small women-owned businesses. Adding these new Business Centers for Women to the existing network of centers across America will increase timely resources for our nation’s female economic drivers by providing them with local training and advice. ”
SBA’s WBCs are a nationwide network of 136 centers offering individual advice, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on various business development topics, including business creation, financial management, marketing and purchasing.
“Opening the doors to the new Women’s Business Centers is crucial to the vitality of small business owners. This expansion of the network will provide women entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start, grow and expand their businesses, ”said Associate Director of the Office of Business Development Allen Gutierrez. “We look forward to the continued success of the WBC program as it contributes to the overall health of our economy and creates jobs in their local communities.”
In addition to opening these 20 new WBCs, the SBA will launch Ascent, a free digital e-learning platform aimed at helping women entrepreneurs to grow and expand their businesses. A live webinar is scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2021, at 1 pm ET. Register here.
The 20 WBCs will begin to open on January 1, 2021, in the following states:
Alabama
1. Regional Economic Assistance for Communicating Hope (REACH) Catalyst Women’s Business Center – Clanton, Alabama
Arizona
2. Chicanos Pro La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) Women’s Business Center – Phoenix, Arizona
California
3. El Pajaro Regional Women’s Business Center – Monterey, California
4. Mission Community Women’s Business Center serving Kern County – Bakersfield, California
Georgia
5. Access to capital for entrepreneurs (ACE) Savannah Women’s Business Center – Savannah, Georgia
Maine
6. Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) WBC South – Portland, Maine
Mississippi
7. Women’s Business Center at Jackson State University (HBCU) – Jackson, Mississippi
Missouri
8. New Growth Women’s Business Center, West Central – Springfield, Missouri
Montana
9. Missoula Women’s Business Center – Missoula, Montana
Nebraska
10. GROW Nebraska Women’s Business Center (GNWBC) – Omaha, Nebraska
New York
11. Women’s Enterprise and Development, Mid-Hudson – Hudson, New York
North Caroline
12. Winston Salem State University (WSSU) Women’s Business Center (HBCU) – Winston Salem, North Carolina
Ohio
13. Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia – Portsmouth, Ohio
Pennsylvania
14. Women’s eBusiness Center of Excellence – Erie, Pennsylvania
Tennessee
15. The Women’s Business Center South – Memphis, Tennessee
South Carolina
16. South Carolina Women’s Business Center – Charleston, South Carolina
South Dakota
17. South Dakota Women’s Business Center (East) – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Texas
18. Women’s Business Center in Montgomery County, East Harris County and West Chambers County – Houston, Texas
Virginia
19. Richmond Women’s Business Center – Richmond, Virginia
Wisconsin
20. Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation Southwest – La Crosse, Wisconsin
To learn more about SBA programs and services for women entrepreneurs, visit online at www.sba.gov/women, and to find other WBC locations and SBA resources, visit www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance.
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About US Small Business Administration
The US Small Business Administration makes the American dream of corporate ownership a reality. As the only resource and voice for small businesses supported by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a disaster. It offers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit https://www.sba.gov.
Charles Abell United States Small Business Administration (832) 388-3016 [email protected]