Resiliency Resources

FEDERAL AND COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURIAL RESOURCES FOR WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES

NWBC remains dedicated to connecting the voice of women entrepreneurs to our nation’s policymakers and key resource partners. While the list below is not exhaustive, it may serve as a quick reference for entrepreneurs interested in developing their business.

SBA Entrepreneurial Development Resources

SBA District Offices – Local offices offering business development services and training to help small businesses start and grow.

Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) – OWBO is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, and support. Because of OWBO and the women’s business centers program, entrepreneurs are offered comprehensive training and counseling on an array of topics.
Office of Native American Affairs – An office that provides entrepreneurial workshops and technical assistance for Native American small business owners.
SBA’s Business Guide – An online guide to start your business in ten steps
National Resource Guide – An additional resource guide for small businesses. It presents information on programs, contracting, counseling, credit/capital, and SBA operations. The guide is available in both English and Spanish.
Learning Center – A learning platform that provides a variety of online courses to help entrepreneurs start and run a business. SBA’s online learning programs work to empower and educate small business owners.
- Ascent – A free digital e-learning platform developed to assist women entrepreneurs ready to expand their businesses.
Community Navigator Program – An American Rescue Plan initiative designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses, including those owned by disadvantaged groups (e.g., veterans, women, rural communities, and communities of color) often face in accessing critical support.
Local Assistance – A directory of local partners that counsel, mentor, and train small business entrepreneurs searchable by zip code.

SBA Resource Partners

Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) – A national network of entrepreneurship centers that provide free to low-cost counseling and training with a focus on women who want to start, grow, and expand their small business

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) – Partner organizations that assist individuals and small businesses by providing a variety of information and guidance on the local level.
SCORE – The largest network of free volunteer small business mentors in the nation. SCORE provides a dedicated page and tailored webinars for women small business owners.
Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) – A program designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. SBA’s VBOCs offer local workshops and mentorship opportunities.

Federal Contracting

SBA Contracting Guide – An online guide that walks small business owners through the federal contracting process.

Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program – A program that helps women-owned small businesses compete for federal contracts; owners must understand the eligibility requirements before applying.
8(a) Business Development Program – A program that assists small, disadvantaged businesses as they compete in the marketplace by providing access to set-aside contract opportunities and technical assistance.
Guidance and resources needed to pursue government contracts. – Guidance and resources needed to pursue government contracts.
System for Award Management (SAM.gov). – The official website of the U.S. Government for registering to do business with the federal government. Registration on SAM.gov is free.
Procurement Center Representatives (PCRs) – A directory of PCRs to support small businesses in securing a federal contract through counseling and assistance with payment issues.
Commercial Market Representatives (CMRs) – A directory of CMRs to assist small businesses in participating as federal subcontractors.

SBA Funding

SBA Funding Programs – A webpage with comprehensive information to learn about loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grants.
SBA Lender Match – A tool that connects businesses with potential lenders offering SBA-backed funding.

SBA Loan Programs – A webpage with a plethora of information women-owned small businesses can review to learn about SBA-backed loans, including a directory of lenders that provide loans to small businesses. SBA does not lend money directly to small business owners. Instead, it sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions. SBA reduces risk for lenders and makes it easier for them to access capital. In turn, that makes it easier for small businesses to secure loans.
- Microloans – The microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses
- 7(a) Loans – The 7(a) Loan Program includes financial help for small businesses with special requirements. This is the best option when real estate is part of a business purchase, or it can be used for short- and long-term working capital, to refinance current business debt, or to purchase furniture, fixtures, and supplies. The maximum loan amount for a 7(a) loan is $5 million.
- 504 Loan Program – The 504 Loan program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing of up to $5 million for major fixed assets that promote business growth and job creation. This type of loan can be used to encourage business growth and job creation by supporting the purchasing and development of vital assets. These include the purchase or construction of existing buildings or land, new facilities, long-term machinery, and equipment.

SBA Grants

Grants for Community Organizations – An online listing of grants for community organizations and cooperative agreements that support small business growth and development.
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs – Highly competitive awards-based programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in research and development with the potential for commercialization.
- SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) – A program that supports small businesses in entering and expanding into international markets. STEP provides financial awards to assist small businesses with export development.
- Program for Investors in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) – A grant program that provides training and guidance to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs.

Additional Federal Resources

Grants.gov – The federal government’s online, one-stop shop to search for government grant opportunities.
USDA Minority Women Farmers and Ranchers – The Department of Agriculture’s online listing of resources and loan types for underserved farmers and ranchers, including women.

Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO) Grants – The Department of Labor’s WANTO grant helps to expand pathways for women to enter and lead in nontraditional industries.
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) – The Department of Commerce’s MBDA is a federal agency with business experts dedicated to the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises.
Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Program – The International Trade Administration’s (ITA) online resource for women entrepreneurs who wish to grow their business into new markets.

Women’s Business Organizations

Below is a non-exhaustive list of national women’s business organizations as well as other important nonprofit resources championing equity and supporting minority- and women-owned small businesses.

Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) – “AEO’s more than 1,700 members and partners include a broad range of organizations that provide capital and services to assist underserved entrepreneurs in starting, stabilizing, and expanding their businesses.”

Association for Women in Science (AWIS) – “For individuals seeking equity for women in science, engineering, technology, and math, AWIS provides career development, networking, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.”
Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) – “AWBC works to secure economic justice and entrepreneurial opportunities for women by supporting and sustaining a national network of more than one hundred WBCs. WBCs help women succeed in business by providing training, mentoring, business development, and financing opportunities to over 150,000 women entrepreneurs each year.”
Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities – GET Cities “is an initiative designed to accelerate the representation and leadership of women in tech through the development of inclusive tech hubs across the United States.”
How Women Lead – A national organization of top women executives focused on investment and philanthropy to empower women.
National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) – NAWIC “has over 115 chapters throughout the United States that provide its members with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training, public service and more.”
National Association of Women’s Business Owners (NAWBO) – “Founded in 1975, NAWBO is the unified voice of over 11.6 million women-owned businesses in the United States, representing the fastest growing segment of the economy.”
National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses (NAWRB) – “NAWRB is a leading voice for women in the housing ecosystem … advocating for women’s gender equality, raising the utilization of women-owned businesses and providing women the tools and opportunities for economic expansion and growth.”
Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center – A nonprofit organization with a mission to improve inclusion, access, and knowledge in entrepreneurship. It provides the global exchange of knowledge and experience, free classes and weekly events, and networking opportunities.
Native Women Lead – “Native Women Lead revolutionizes systems and inspires innovation by investing in Native women in business … by co-creating with and convening [the] community to build coalitions while honoring … culture, creativity, and connections.”
Startup Champions Network – A professional association of entrepreneurial ecosystem builders. Members are individual system weavers committed to entrepreneurship as a tool to improve communities.
The BOW Collective – Business philanthropists that work together to bring awareness, business opportunities, and capital resources to Black women-owned enterprises.
The Tory Burch Foundation – A foundation that empowers women and women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, education, and digital resources.
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) – USWCC is focused on helping “women start and build successful businesses and careers, gain access to government contracts, grow as leaders, and prepare for a secure retirement.”
Walker’s Legacy – “A global platform for professional and entrepreneurial multicultural women.” The organization notes it exists “to inspire, equip, and engage through thoughtprovoking content, educational programming, and a global community.”
Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) – “WBENC has grown to become the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States and a leading advocate for women-owned businesses.”
Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) – “A national, nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of women entrepreneurs—strengthening their impact on our nation’s public policy, creating economic opportunities, and forging alliances with other business organizations.”
Women’s Presidents’ Organization (WPO) – “A nonprofit membership organization for women presidents of multimillion-dollar companies. The organization was formed to improve business conditions for women entrepreneurs and to promote the acceptance and advancement of women entrepreneurs in all industries.”

Foundations and Private Sector Programs

Bank of America Center for Women Entrepreneurs – A center that provides an access to capital directory for women entrepreneurs, invests in partnerships that advance the interests of women business owners, and offers training, mentoring, and capital.

Foundation and Private Sector Programs icon

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women – An initiative to provide business and management education to female entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
Wells Fargo’s Connect to More – A program that offers networking, coaching, and a library of resources, among other programs, to support women-owned small businesses.
JP Morgan Chase & Co’s Women on the Move – A global initiative to support women-run businesses, provide tools and education to help women increase their financial health and independence, and offer resources that empower women to excel in their careers.
Chase for Business Curated Coaching for Entrepreneurs – A program that offers interactions with an expert to create an entrepreneurial game plan and strategic tools for business growth.

RESILIENCY RESOURCES