Earlier this week, (January 4, 2021), the  U.S. Small Business Administration announced the launch of 20 new Women’s Business Centers (WBC) across America.

  • The WBCs will be hosted in rural and underserved markets
  • The expansion will widen the footprint and partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
  • The opening of the 20 new WBCs is the largest expansion of WBCs 30-year history

“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,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza. “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.”

The SBA WBCs is a national network of 136 centers that offers one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startup, financial management, marketing, and procurement. 

The 20 new WBCs began opening on January 1, 2021, in the following states:

Alabama
Regional Economic Assistance for Communicating Hope (REACH) Catalyst Women’s Business Center – Clanton, Alabama

Arizona
Chicanos Pro La Causa, Inc. (CPLC’s) Women’s Business Center – Phoenix, Arizona

California

  • El Pajaro Regional Women’s Business Center – Monterey, Californi
  • Mission Community Women’s Business Center serving Kern County – Bakersfield, California

Georgia
Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) Savannah Women’s Business Center – Savannah, Georgia

Maine
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) WBC South – Portland, Maine

Mississippi
Women’s Business Center at Jackson State University (HBCU) – Jackson, Mississippi – Hinds County

Missouri
New Growth Women’s Business Center, West Central – Springfield, Missouri

Montana
Missoula Women’s Business Center – Missoula, Montana

Nebraska
GROW Nebraska Women’s Business Center (GNWBC) – Omaha, Nebraska

New York
Women’s Enterprise Development Center, WEDC Mid-Hudson Women’s Business Center – Poughkeepsie, New York

North Carolina
Winston Salem State University (WSSU) Women’s Business Center (HBCU) – Winston Salem, North Carolina

Ohio
Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia – Portsmouth, Ohio

Pennsylvania
Women’s eBusiness Center of Excellence – Erie, Pennsylvania

Tennessee
The Women’s Business Center South – Memphis, Tennessee

South Carolina
South Carolina Women’s Business Center – Charleston, South Carolina

South Dakota
South Dakota Women’s Business Center (East) – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Texas
Women’s Business Center of Montgomery County, East Harris County, and West Chambers County – Houston, Texas

Virginia
Women’s Business Center of Richmond – Richmond, Virginia

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation Southwest – La Crosse, Wisconsin

To learn more about SBA’s programs and services for women entrepreneurs, visit online at www.sba.gov/women, and to find other WBC locations and SBA resources, visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance

Also on SmallBusiness.com | “U.S. Resources for Women Business Owners”

Credit: Thomas Barwick Creative GettyImages

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