SBA Launches Largest Expansion of Women’s Business Centers in 30 Years
20 Women’s Business Centers to Open Across America
Supporting Women-Owned Small Businesses
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced grant funding and the historic launch of 20 new Women’s Business Centers (WBC) across America to serve rural, urban, and underserved communities alike. The opening of the 20 new WBCs is the largest single expansion of WBCs across America in its 30-year tenure, and these centers will be pivotal to the success of women-owned businesses as they continue to recover during this time. The WBCs will be hosted in rural and underserved markets and widen the footprint and partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“We are incredibly excited that an organization as prominent as the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce is joining the SBA team,” said Tim Jeffcoat. “We are looking forward to working with them to empower women-owned businesses in Houston to reach new heights of success.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the SBA in opening another Women’s Business Center, providing resources and tools for our region’s women-led organizations to launch and expand,” said Suzan Deison, CEO, President and Founder of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. “We are honored the SBA chose to partner with us to expand needed services in Montgomery, East Harris & Chambers’ counties, especially during these challenging times.”
Jordyn Dean, the Director of Communications at the GHWCC, will be the WBCs Executive Director while Suzan Deison continues to lead the GHWCC.
“It has always been a passion of mine to be the voice of those underserved,” said Jordyn Dean. “As a working mother with two toddlers, I understand the challenges women face as a result of the pandemic. I look forward to working with the SBA and our innovative and determined female entrepreneurs to bridge the gap and contribute to our economy’s overall health to help keep Houston strong.”
“Over the past several months, we have seen Women’s Business Centers provide aid to our nation’s innovative and determined entrepreneurs, allowing countless small business owners to pivot with confidence to stay afloat during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Expanding the WBC program is part of this Administration’s longstanding commitment to the success of female entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses. Adding these new Women’s Business Centers to the already existing network of centers across America will boost timely resources to our nation’s female economic drivers, providing them with local training and counseling.”
SBA’s WBCs are a national network of 136 centers that offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startup, financial management, marketing, and procurement.
“Opening the doors to the new Women’s Business Centers is crucial to the vitality of women-owned small business owners. This network expansion will provide female entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses,” said Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial 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, SBA will launch Ascent, a free digital e-learning platform geared to help women entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses.