If you’re a female founder struggling to keep your business open because of Covid or even just trying to get started, having a strong support system is always a good idea.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) this week announced its selection of 14 different institutions that will get $2.7 million in grant funding to support business development activities. Specifically, the fund, which will be broken up in $200,000 increments, will go to programming for Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) in 13 select states.
While the money won’t go directly to small businesses, it is intended to improve service delivery, training, and support provided to women-owned businesses impacted by Covid-19–particularly those located in small, diverse, and rural communities.
A total of 14 WBCs were selected out of a network of 136 centers on the basis of their ability to address the needs of women business owners adversely affected by Covid. The SBA notes that the business centers selected were also required to provide counseling, technical, financial skill development, comprehensive business assessment, and mentoring services to women interested in starting or growing a small business.
The following is a list of WBCs that have received funding:
- CWE Eastern Massachusetts — Women’s Business Center, Boston
- Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship Women’s Business Center, Chatham, N.J.
- WISE Women’s Business Center, Syracuse, N.Y.
- Chatham University’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship Women’s Business Center, Pittsburgh
- weVENTURE Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech Bisk College of Business, Melbourne, Fla.
- Benedict College Women’s Business Center, Columbia, S.C.
- WEOC Women’s Business Center, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- WomenVenture WBC, Minneapolis
- Albuquerque Women’s Business Center, Albuquerque
- Arkansas Women’s Business Center, Little Rock
- Mi Casa Women’s Business Center, Denver
- California Capital Women’s Business Center, Sacramento
- Women’s Economic Ventures Women’s Business Center, Santa Barbara, Calif.
- Idaho Women’s Business Center-Twin Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho
To hear more about available resources and potential funding, contact your local SBA office or Business Improvement District (BID).
