Resources For The Growing Constituency -- WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Office of Women's Business Ownership U.S. Small Business Administration Cindy Owings of Bozeman, Montana began her design business as a one-person operation. The biggest obstacle she faced was convincing bankers from Montana that a fashion-oriented business was as legitimate as a ranching operation or restaurant. Two years after launching Cindy Owings Design, she was approved for an SBA Guaranteed Loan. Since then, the company expanded to employ 19 full time people. Judith McDowall, owner of Biotechnical Services, came to the Little Rock, Arkansas, SBA District Office looking for assistance in learning how to submit proposals for government contracts. Over the next year, she won several small contracts. Later, she was the successful bidder on a $1 million contract with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Vivian Neuman, an honors graduate of the tailoring program at Milwaukee Area Technical College, learned the business skills of entrepreneurship from the Women's Business Initiative Corporation (part of the SBA's Demonstration Project Program). After drawing up a business plan and applying for a loan, Neuman won several commercial sewing accounts for her company, "Sew Perfect" and hired two employees. Women-owned businesses remain one of the fastest growing segments of our economy; women continue to start businesses at twice the rate of men. U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that women own 32% of all small businesses in the United States and will likely be 40% by the year 2000. Despite impressive advancements, however, women continue to face unique challenges in business. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers a range of resources to assist women entrepreneurs in starting and growing their businesses. The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership has addressed the challenges presented by women business owners and crafted programs to help them overcome obstacles. These programs reach the range of entrepreneurs -- from potential business owners, to those seeking to expand ongoing businesses and others diversifying into seeking contracts with the federal government. SBA'S ROLE TO GUIDE ENTREPRENEURS The SBA sees its role as providing more comprehensive and accessible training for potential and current entrepreneurs so that their start-up businesses succeed and their on-going businesses grow. The Office of Women's Business Ownership at the U.S. Small Business Administration, was created to meet the needs of the nearly 5 million new and growing women entrepreneurs. The SBA has made women business owners a high priority. We are working to ensure that women entrepreneurs know the range of programs and publications offered by the SBA and its partner organizations to train, counsel, advise and assist entrepreneurs throughout their business careers, from start-up to expansion. SBA RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU ACCESS TO CAPITAL The Small Business Administration offers numerous programs, including financial assistance, counseling and training programs, to assist women as they join the business community. The Agency's loan guarantee programs are among the most widely used by women who are having difficulty securing capital. To meet the special financial needs of women in business, we have implemented the Small Loan Incentive, which guarantees up to 90 percent of each loan under $50,000. Although this program is not limited to women, it is especially beneficial to companies in service industries, where women are heavily concentrated. The SBA also sponsors "Access to capital" conferences throughout the country and is developing an "Alternative Financing List" of nontraditional funding sources for distribution to women business owners who are having difficulty finding conventional credit. For businesses needing smaller amounts of capital, we are currently implementing a Micro-Loan pilot program where loans range from just a few hundred dollars to as much as $25,000 -- which will be made by private community-based non-profit organizations with at least one year's successful experience making small loans to entrepreneurs to establish or strengthen their small businesses. The SBA selected 35 non-profit lenders which will make small loans to entrepreneurs. MENTORING -- THE WOMEN'S NETWORK FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING Women business owners are going into business in record numbers. Since this phenomenon became statistically clear, most assistance is designed to assist start-up businesses. However, the SBA identified an overwhelming need for a program that was designed specifically to keep women in business and help them grow. That program needed to focus on growth and survival tactics and needed to address some of the less visible problems women encounter in their business lives. That program is the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training (WNET) linking seasoned entrepreneurs with women whose businesses are ready to grow. The one-year-long mentoring program offers technical business training by an experienced entrepreneur and serves as a vehicle to pass on some of the less tangible aspects of business success, such as communications skills, management growth and the value of networking. There are now more than 500 pairs of mentors and protegees throughout the United States. The popularity of this program builds on the strength of increasing numbers of women-owned businesses reach- ing that second stage of growth, translating into substantive economic development. To apply for the WNET mentoring program as a protegee or as a mentor, either call the Women's Business Ownership Representative in your SBA District Office, or write to me: Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training, Office of Women's Business Ownership, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20416. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT PROGRAM The Demonstration Project Program was authorized by the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988, Public Law 100-533, to establish long- term training and counseling centers for women interested in starting and expanding businesses. These organizations have trained and counseled over 5,000 women seeking business expertise. The result for each community is real economic development--new businesses, new jobs and expanding businesses. Listed below are the centers that have been established: American Woman's Economic Development Corporation (AWED) Los Angeles, CA - 310/983-3747 Washington, DC - 202/857-0091 Bi-Cap, Inc. Women in New Development (WIND) Bemidji, HI - 218/751-4631 Grant Thornton, Center for Women's Business Enterprise (CWBE) Dallas, Houston, TX - 713/650-3833 or 658-0300 Austin, TX - 512/476-7501 Dallas, TX - 214/855-7300 Mi Casa Business Center for Women (BCW) Denver, CO - 303/573-1302 Midwest Women Business Owners Development Team (EXCEL!) Detroit, MI - 313/396-3576 Grand Rapids, MI - 616/458-4783 National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO St. Louis) St. Louis, MO - 314/621-6162 Southwest Resource Development San Antonio, TX - 512/828-9034 Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) Joliet, IL - 815/727-6544 Kankakee, IL - 815/933-0375 Rockford, IL - 815/968-4087 Indianapolis, IN - 317/923-2110 Columbus, OH - 614/225-6087 Yellow Springs, OH - 513/767-2667 Akron, OH - 216/535-9346 Athens, OH - 614/593-1797 Cincinnati, OH 513/684-0700 Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WBIC) Milwaukee, WI - 414/277-7004 Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) Albuquerque, NH - 505/848-4760 Taos, NM - 505/758-1161 Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Training Program (WEST) Fort Bragg, CA - 707/964-7571 Women's Economic Ventures Enterprise (WEVE) Quad Cities, IL and IA - 309/788-9793 YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Women's Entrepreneurial Center (WEC) Atlanta, GA 404/872-4747 GAINING ACCESS TO THE FEDERAL MARKETPLACE--PROCUREMENT "Selling to the Federal Government" workshops train women business owners to enter the large market niche offered by federal government spending. The federal government spends nearly $200 billion annually on a wide range of products and services, from toothbrushes to computers, books to meals, machinery, utensils, and office supplies. But less than 2% of all federal contracts are awarded to women-owned firms. Many women-owned businesses can benefit from learning how to break into this market. OWBO, together with SBA's Procurement Assistance Office, provides counseling, training and contract assistance for women interested in prime and sub-contracting opportunities. --The SBA's Procurement Automated Source System (PASS) contains information on small businesses interested in federal prime and sub contracts. To keep this list of businesses current, and to increase the number of women-owned businesses listed, it is important that women business owners register on the PASS system. While registering is not a guarantee of a contract, it's a door opener for opportunities, solicitation mailing lists, training programs and possible contracts. To register on the PASS system, call the SBA Answer Desk 1-800-827-5722, or PASS (202) 205-6469. WOMEN GOING INTERNATIONAL Expanding global markets will be a key element in our economy by the year 2000. The SBA's training programs in international trade are preparing the foundation for long term partnerships with our neighbors in North America, the EC, Eastern Europe and elsewhere around the globe. As our vision of the global marketplace expands, we are reaching out to women business owners to become vital partners in that business exchange, especially in these early stages when opportunities are expanding. The SBA's Offices of International Trade and Women's Business Ownership are sponsoring 13 training conferences to prepare women entrepreneurs for the global marketplace. "The World is Your Market" is the message we are sending to those entrepreneurs with services and products available for overseas trade. For more information on "Women Going International" programs, write to Office of International Trade or Office of Women's Business Ownership, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street S.W., Washington, D.C. 20416, or call (202) 205-6673. COUNSELING AND TRAINING The SBA also offers a variety of counseling services. These counseling services are offered without charge; there may be a nominal fee for training. Over 13,000 volunteer members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (or "SCORE") share their expertise and experience with new business owners who are having problems or simply need advice. SCORE offers workshops on topics such as starting home-based businesses, pre-business workshops, and writing a business plan. To take advantage of SCORE's services, you can check the telephone book for the Service Corps of Retired Executives, contact your nearest SBA office, or call the National SCORE office, (202) 205-6762. Small Business Institutes (SBIs), often located on college campuses, conduct market research and offer hands-on counseling for ongoing businesses, (202) 205-6665. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide counseling, training and research assistance for all aspects of small business management, (202) 205-6766. For a complete list of SBA publications and videotapes for starting and managing a small business, contact your local SBA office. HOW TO FIND YOUR SBA WOMEN'S REPRESENTATIVE Through the national network of local SBA offices, a wide range of services and resources are available to you. Each SBA office has a Women's Business Ownership Representative who can provide guidance on starting and growing a business. To reach the SBA Women's Representative in your area you may: 1) go to the SBA State Women's Representatives section on the Women's Business Ownership Menu on this BBS; 2) consult the telephone directory under U.S. Government; 3) call the SBA Answer Desk at 1-800-8ASK-SBA; or 4) write to me: Sherrye Henry, Director Office of Women's Business Ownership U.S. Small Business Administration 409 Third Street S.W. Washington, D.C. 20416. SBA MISSION As women business owners expand their companies, they become increasingly important to the local, regional and national economies. As we watch the figures mount, both in receipts from women-owned companies, and in numbers of women entrepreneurs, we are proud to see a substantial growth in the number of women taking part in SBA programs. The SBA's programs serve the same goal -- to provide potential and current business owners with the skills, training, preparation and resources they need to exercise their growing economic strength in their local, regional and national economies. This increasingly important role that women are playing in our American economy is not simply a "statistical blip on the radar screen". The SBA is working hard to reach this dynamic sector of our economy and to help them achieve their potential. As we move into the 21st century, we expect to see increasing services directed specifically to the needs of particular types of women owned businesses. The key to our success in helping the small business person is to be as responsive as possible to the expanding and evolving needs of the American population and their potential roles as business owners and service providers who will creatively and efficiently seize entrepreneurial opportunities. U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership Small Business Administration Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) 409 3rd Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20416 202/205-6673 FAX: 202/205-7064 Assistant Administrator: Sherrye Henry Contracting Officer's Tech. Rep. (COTR): Harriet Fredman Demonstration Project Awardees The following organizations have received funding to establish 19 Demonstration Projects throughout the United States to train and counsel women starting and expanding businesses. American Woman's Economic Development corporation (AWED) Parent organization: 641 Lexington Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY 10022 212/688-1900 FAX: 212/688-2718 Contact: Rosalind Paaswell, President Sites Funded Judith Luther Susan Phillips Bari Regional Director Regional Director 301 E. Ocean Blvd. 2445 M Street, N.W. Suite 1010 Room 490 Long Beach, CA 90802 Washington, DC 20037 213/983-3747 (mailing address) P.O. Box 65644 Washington, DC 20035 202/857-0091 202/835-0819 fax BI-CAP, Inc. Women in New Development (WIND) Anne McGill, Project Director Cyndee Hoialmen, Economic Development Coordinator BI-CAP, Inc. P.O.Box 579 Bemidji, MN 56601 218/751-4631 FAX: 218/751-8452 Center for Women's Business Enterprise (CWBE) - Grant Thornton Linda Schneider, State Coordinator 1200 Smith Street, 2800 Citicorp Building Houston, TX 77002 713/650-3833 713/658-0300 FAX: 713/658-0105 Serving Austin, Dallas and Houston CWBE Austin Site Barbara Wilson, Project Director Center for Women's Business Enterprise 301 Congress Avenue, Suite 1000 Austin, TX 78701 512/476-7501 FAX: 512/476-2738 CWBE Dallas Site Divonna A. Hold Dallas Site Coordinator 800 First Interstate Bank Tower Dallas, TX 75202 214/855-7300 FAX: 214/855-7370 EXCEL! -- Midwest Women Business Owners Development Team Chinyere Neale Project Director 200 Renaissance Center, Suite 1600 Detroit, HI 48243-1274 313/396-3576 Carol Lopucki Executive Director 200 Ottawa N.W., Suite 900 Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2465 616/458-4783 FAX: 616/774-9081 Hi Casa Business Center for Women (BCW) Elsa Holguin Project Director 571 Galapago Street Denver, CO 80204 303/573-1302 FAX: 303/595-0422 Judy Patrick, Associate Director Eileen Donlin, Assistant Project Director NAWBO of St. Louis Thelma Crawford Project Director 911 Washington Avenue, Suite 140 St. Louis, HO 63101 314/621-6162 Southwest Resource Development Joyce Hipp Project Director 8700 Crownhill, Suite 700 San Antonio, TX 78209 512/828-9034 Site Location Harilyn Cooper, Site Director Center for Women's Business Enterprise, Grant Thornton 8023 Vantage Drive, Suite 600, San Antonio, TX 78230 512/377-2100 Women's Business Development Center Parent Organization: 8 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60603 312/853-3477 FAX: 312/853-0145 Carol Dougal and Hedy Ratner, CoDirectors Linda Darragh, Projects Hanager Sites Funded Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) Juliann Hinarich, Project Director SBDC/Joliet Junior College 214 No. Ottawa, 3rd Floor Joliet, IL 60431 815/727-6544 x1312 Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) Jeanne Jenkins, Project Director Kankakee Community College 4 Dearborn Square Kankakee, IL 60901 815/933-0375 Women Business Owners Advocacy Program (WBOAP) Shirley DeBenedetto Project Director SBDC/Rock Valley College 1220 Rock Street Rockford, IL 61101 815/968-4087 IRHSDC Indiana Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc., Hartha Bullock Project Director 300 East Fall Creek Parkway, N.D., P.O. Box 44801 Indianapolis, IN 46244-0801 317/923-2110 Ohio Coordinator Helody Borchers, 614/466-4945 Minority Female Entrepreneurship Program Judy Graham Director 37 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215-3065 614/225-6087 FAX: 614/469-8250 Women's Economic Assistance Ventures (WEAV) Rosann Hiller-Wethington Executive Director 105 West North College P.O. Box 512 Yellow Springs, OH 45387 513/767-2667 FAX: 513/767-1354 Women's Entrepreneurial Growth Organization (WEGO) Barbara Lange Director 58 W. Center Street P.O. Box 544 Akron, OH 44309 216/535-9346 FAX: 216/535-4523 SBDC of Southeastern Ohio Harianne Vermeer Director One President Street Athens, OH 45701 614/593-1797 FAX: 614/593-1795 Women Entrepreneurs Inc. Susan Kamp Director 525 Vine Street, 3rd Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202 513/684-0700 Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WBIC) Lidia Paz Beckett Project Director 1020 North Broadway Milwaukee, WI 53202 414/277-7004 Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST Corp) Agnes Noonan Project Director 414 Silver Southwest Albuquerque, NH 87102 505/848-4760 To Serve Albuquerque, Sante Fe and Taos, NM WESST Corp. Taos, NM Hargaret Harr Project Director Taos County Economic Development Corporation P.O. Box 1389 Taos, NM 87571 505/758-1161 West Company (WEST Co.) A Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Training Program Parent Organization: 413 North State Street Ukiah, CA 95482 707/462-2348 Sheilah Rogers, Director Site Funded 340 North Hain Street Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707/964-7571 Director: Haggie Watson Women's Economic Venture Enterprise (WEVE) Lynn Spaight Project Director 229 - 16th Street Rock Island, IL 61201' 309/788-9793 Serving Quad Cities of Holine and Rock Island, Il and Davenport and Bettendorf, IA YWCA of Greater Atlanta Sharon Foster Project Director 957 North Highland Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30306 404/872-4747 ---------- End of Document