BUSINESS: The Independent Eye: Biz Tactics Small Business Administration Announces 17 New Women’s Business Centers By Staff Thursday, April 4, 2024 8:15 AM Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice of more than 33 million U.S. small businesses, has announced the selection of 17 new Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), 13 of which will be hosted by established Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across 10 states. “We have seen a historic Small Business Boom, with women, especially women of color, filing new business applications at double the rates of men,” said administrator Guzman. “The SBA’s expanding network of Women's Business Centers is meeting these new and established businesses where they are with resources to help them get funding to grow, create jobs and strengthen our economy. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the Biden-Harris Administration is proud to double down on its commitment to expanding opportunity and leveling the playing field for women and all those who have been underinvested in for too long.” The SBA’s WBCs offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startups, financial management, marketing and procurement. Through the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO), the 17 new WBCs—including 13 hosted by MSIs—will help diverse entrepreneurs pivot, grow and navigate SBA resources they can use to ensure their businesses thrive. “Through WBCs, the SBA provides practical help to women working hard to build successful businesses of their own,” said Christina Hale, assistant administrator for the Office of Women's Business Ownership. “Women entrepreneurs are out front leading the way, driving record numbers of small business applications all around the country, and the SBA’s WBCs empower their efforts through training, technical assistance, and access to credit and capital. WBC resources can be game-changing for women just starting or for those scaling up and growing their businesses as well.” The U.S. is enjoying a historic small business boom, according to the SBA, with more than 16.8 million new business applications filed since January 2021. Women are starting businesses across industries at higher rates than their male counterparts. Within the past 3 years, total SBA loans to women-owned businesses are up 70 percent; total loan dollars to women-owned businesses are up 61 percent, totaling more than $5 billion in lending in fiscal-year 2023 alone. The new Women’s Business Centers include: California: • Pasadena Area Community College District (MSI) - Pasadena • Vermont-Slauson LDC, Inc. (MSI) - Los Angeles • New Economics for Women (MSI) - Los Angeles Connecticut: • Women's Business Development Council - Stamford Washington, D.C.: • Washington Area Community Investment Fund - Washington, D.C. Florida: • The Greater North Miami Chamber of Commerce (MSI) - North Miami Hawaii: • YWCA Oahu (MSI) - Honolulu Illinois: • The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (MSI) - Chicago • Women’s Business Development (MSI) - Chicago Louisiana: • Urban League of Louisiana (MSI) - New Orleans Ohio: • Economic and Community Development Institute (MSI) - Columbus Oregon: • Livelihood NW - Portland South Carolina: • Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber of Commerce (MSI) - Barnwell Tennessee: • Kingsport Chamber Foundation - Kingsport Texas: • Houston Women’s Business Council, Inc. (MSI) - Houston Virginia: • Old Dominion University Research Foundation (MSI) - Norfolk Wisconsin: • Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (MSI) - Milwaukee To find other WBC locations and additional SBA resources, click here.