FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Temren Wroge
202-738-3523
Temren.Wroge@sba.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 21, 2018 – The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) has submitted its 2018 Annual Report to the President, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the House Committee on Small Business, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. This Report commemorates NWBC’s 30th anniversary year and provides the findings, conclusions, and policy recommendations of the Council. NWBC Chair Liz Sara also provides her vision for guiding the Council into a new era, where it will build on past and current achievements and ensure its advocacy loses neither momentum nor impact. This year, there are an estimated 12.3 million women-owned firms accounting for 40% of all businesses in the United States. In the 2018 Annual Report, NWBC reaffirms its commitment to providing a platform to expand and improve opportunities for women business owners and their enterprises. Please click here to read the 2018 Annual Report.
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About National Women’s Business Council
The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a nonpartisan federal advisory council established to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration on issues related to women’s business enterprise. The Council is comprised of eight small business owners from across the country, six representatives of national women’s business organizations, and one Chairperson, Liz Sara, who was recently appointed by President Donald J. Trump in August 2018. To learn more about NWBC, visit www.nwbc.gov.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Temren Wroge
202-738-3523
Temren.Wroge@sba.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (April 1, 2020) – In the midst of uncertainty, the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a federal advisory committee comprised of small business owners and representatives of national women’s business organizations, acknowledges the detrimental effects coronavirus has had on small businesses. Council Members have shared the challenges that the outbreak has presented for their own enterprises or those of their organization’s members. From the disruption in the supply chain to the cancellation of annual industry trade shows, the impact can be felt across industries and state lines.
NWBC has also indefinitely postponed its signature #LetsTalkBusiness Roundtable Series, which connects the voices of women entrepreneurs and business owners from across the country to policymakers in the Nation’s capital and helps serve as a springboard for the Council’s annual policy recommendations to Congress, the President, and the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Nonetheless, NWBC remains focused on carrying out its critical mission. As was reinforced at our first 2020 #LetsTalkBusiness Roundtable last month in San Juan, Puerto Rico, women business owners are key to helping local and national economies recover from disasters as well as grow and thrive.
Women-owned businesses represent 42% of all businesses — nearly 13 million — employing 9.4 million workers and generating revenue of $1.9 trillion. Over the past five years, the annual growth rate in the number of women-owned firms has been more than double that of all businesses. Female founders have fought too hard for a true place in the economy to lose all gains now.
With COVID-19 abruptly and drastically changing the landscape of our economy and disrupting local ecosystems, small businesses are looking for resources and advice to help them navigate these uncertain times and persevere.
The SBA is offering small businesses impacted by the Coronavirus up to $2 million in low-interest loans. These loans—available in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories—can be used to “pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.” The interest rate offered to qualifying small businesses is 3.75%, and 2.75% for non-profits. The SBA is also providing deferment relief to its existing borrowers on certain SBA-serviced loans through December 31, 2020. You can find additional information at www.SBA.gov/disaster.
The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have also announced a tax filing extension for all taxpayers from April 15 to July 15, 2020.
As we adjust to the new realities this crisis brings, NWBC remains committed to advocating for the nation’s 13 million women business owners and entrepreneurs. Please email NWBC at info@nwbc.gov and tell us how the Coronavirus is impacting your business. Be sure to stay in touch with us as we work to develop a webinar series on assistance available for small businesses.
Check out these NWBC Council Member & Partner Resources:
Contact:
Jordan Chapman
202-941-6001
Jordan.Chapman@sba.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (December 20, 2022) – The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is proud to share its 2022 Annual Report. NWBC serves as a source of advice and counsel to Congress, the White House, and the SBA Administrator on issues of importance to women entrepreneurs. The report, which includes a slate of impactful policy recommendations, has been delivered to these audiences and is now available to the public.
“Our Council Members have worked determinedly throughout the year and we are delighted to have encapsulated this effort through our annual report,” said Tené Dolphin, Executive Director of NWBC. “NWBC elevates the position of America’s over 11 million women entrepreneurs through research, engagement, advocacy, and policy deliberation. We have made major progress on these efforts over the past year and hope to build on this progress into the new year.”
Innovative research, recaps of events, notable legislation and resiliency resources are just a few of the highlights NWBC’s 2022 Annual Report has to offer. Also in the report are policy recommendations focused on access to capital and opportunity, women in STEM, and rural women’s entrepreneurship, which include the following:
- Congress should consider viable options for expanding tax relief for small business owners severely impacted by global supply chain disruptions and workforce availability issues, emphasizing relief for businesses in industries with a significant level of participation by women and minorities.
- The Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) should continue to emphasize and prioritize women and women of color to ensure fair access to actual contracting awards through focused outreach, education, and data collection.
- SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) should continue supporting WBCs to help them enhance coordination with procurement technical assistance centers (PTACs) and other small business resource partners to better assist rural women business owners interested in pursuing federal contracting opportunities, which might include leveraging referrals and instituting robust benchmarks and metrics.
- And more!
To explore NWBC’s 2022 Annual Report and view reports from previous years, visit the Annual Reports page.
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About The National Women’s Business Council
The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) is a non-partisan federal advisory committee created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners. To learn more, please visit: www.NWBC.gov.