November 2006

SBA grants $12 million for WBCs

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced $12 million in grant funding for 19 new Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) and 80 existing WBCs, broadening the reach of business training and counseling to assist women to start, grow, and expand their small businesses.

The $12 million includes funding for the 19 new WBCs, continued funding for the 29 existing WBCs that are still in their first five years of funding, and 51 older WBCs were awarded sustainability grants. Each WBC is required to match a portion of the federal funds with private contributions.

The WBC program served more than 144,000 clients across the country last year, providing help with financial management, procurement training, marketing, and technical assistance. WBCs also provide specialized programs that include mentoring in various languages, Internet training, issues facing displaced workers, and rural home-based entrepreneurs.

Each WBC tailors its services to meet the needs of the local area, and works to provide women business owners with long-term training, counseling, and mentoring, as well as access to all of the SBA’s programs and services.

For a complete list of all centers receiving grants, to find the location nearest to you, and for additional information about the SBA’s Women’s Business Center program, visit www.onlinewbc.gov/wbc.pdf.

Source: Small Business Administration, www.sba.gov

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