Houston Republic

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made grant funding available to create a Women’s Business Center (WBC) in Houston.

It is the largest single expansion of Women’s Business Centers across the country in three decades, as 20 centers are being created nationwide. The SBA expects these centers to be key to the success of female-owned businesses as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Women’s Business Center of Montgomery County, East Harris County, and West Chambers County in Houston received a grant to operate and assist female business owners.

“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,” SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said.  “Expanding the WBC program is part of (President Donald Trump's 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.”

There are 136 WBCs across the country. Each offers a variety of services, including 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,” Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development Allen Gutierrez said. “This network expansion will provide female entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses. 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.”

The SBA will also launch Ascent, a free digital e-learning platform geared to help female entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses.