Small Business Administration Recognizes Women's Needs

A Home Business Article Contributed by Donna m. Brown

Small Business Administration Offers Online Women's Business Center

The Small Business Administration recognizes the needs of entrepreneurial women in America today and has established a website specifically for women at .

According to the Small Business Administration, 9.1 million women-owned businesses employ 27.5 million people and contribute $3.6 trillion to the United States economy. "Yet women continue to face unique obstacles in the world of business, " according to an article published online by the Small Business Administration. The organization wants to do more to level the playing field for women who want to own their own businesses.

Some special challenges face women today who want to own and operate their own businesses. Women are good managers and businesses owners and, while their opportunities are increasing, there's still plenty of work to be done. You can help women to establish a firm standing in the business world by taking advantage of the programs offered through organizations like the Small Business Administration.

How the Small Business Administration is Helping Women

The Online Women's Business Office was established to promote the growth of women-owned business. A need for training and technical assistance is being addressed by the Small Business Administration through this program. The program will help provide access to credit and capital, federal contracts, and international trade opportunities.

Here are just a few of the benefits the Small Business Administration offers women:

- Women's business ownership representatives in every SBA district office

- A nationwide network of mentoring roundtables

- Women's business centers in nearly every state and territory

- Women-owned venture capital companies

- The Online Women's Business Center

Help is available at each state of developing and expanding a successful business, according to the office of Women's Business Ownership.

See What's New for Women Through the Small Business Administration

The Online Women's Business Center has a whole new look. The website and information contained within is free. It is interactive and will help entrepreneurs find their way through a jungle of paperwork, questions and considerations in the process of opening or expanding a business. The website was formerly managed by a grantee, but is now managed by the Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership.

And, have you heard? A new Small Business Administration loan program has changed the set size limit for loans and has added incentives for smaller loans. Changes have been made to three Small Business Administration primary loan programs:

-7(a) General Business Loan Guaranty program

- 504 Certified Development Company loan program

- Microloan program.

In an Internet poll aimed at businesses with diversity focus, more than 50, 000 women-owned and minority businesses voted the Small Business Administration America's top government agency for promoting multicultural business opportunities, according to the SBA.

Contact the Office of Women's Business Ownership and find out what it's program administrators can do for you! You are not alone in this small business adventure and you never should be.

Office of Women's Business Ownership

Small Business Administration

409 Third Street SW, Fourth Floor

Washington, DC 20416

(202) 205-6673

owbo@sba.gov