Women Fair Well with Small Business Administration

A Home Business Article Contributed by Donna M. Brown

Small Business Administration Touts Record-Breaking Performance

The U.S. Small Business Administration touted record-breaking performance in FY 2004 in an Oct. 8, 2004 press release. "The agency and its lending partners provided more loans to women-owned businesses than ever before, " according to the release published online at .

The government agency claims to have backed nearly 18, 000 loans to women under its two primary loan programs. The loans totaled $2.5 billion, "more than double the number of loans to women in FY 2001, " according to the Small Business Administration's prepared statement.

Small Business Administration Notes Federal Contracts for Women on the Rise

Women-owned small businesses received $1.5 billion in federal contracts in FY 2003. "The total value of federal contracts to women-owned businesses rose from $6.8 billion to $8.3 billion, a total of 2.98 percent of all federal prime contract dollars, " according to the Small Business Administration. It is reported that prime contract dollars increased by 81 percent, more than $3.7 billion from FY 2000 to FY 2003.

Small Business Administration Targets Women for Success

The Small Business Administration is working hard to match businesses with contract opportunities. The official name for this program is, "Business Matching." According to the prepared statement published by the Small Business Administration the two-year-old program has created about 22, 000 one-on-one appointments between small business owners and buyers from federal and local governments as well as buyers from the private sectors.

Of those businesses that received contracts, 50 percent have been women-owned business, " Small Business Administration officials reported. Women-owned businesses have also received 65 percent of the contracting dollars."

What Can the Small Business Administration Do for You?

The Small Business Administration offers small business owners a variety of services. Technical assistance including training and counseling are available for entrepreneurial development. SBA can provide you with information on business and community initiatives and even international trade. Programs geared toward businesses owned by women are also available.

The Small Business Administration specializes in financial assistance through loan programs, surety guarantees and it even has an investment division.

Contracting assistance is another of the services the Small Business administration can provide. The government organization can provide you with advocacy services and information about laws and regulations.

Contact the Small Business Administration

Offices of the SBA are spread throughout the nation for easy access. To find the office nearest you, visit the Small Business Administration Website at .

Before you embark on any business adventure, it is a good idea to resolve to make the United States Small Business Administration a partner in planning. Representatives of the SBA are trained to help you find the pitfalls into which many small business owners dive head first. You could save yourself time, money and trouble by consulting experts who will help you - for free. Your success is the SBA's success and counselors there are eager to see you succeed in a competitive business market today.