FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Temren Wroge
202-738-3523
Temren.Wroge@sba.gov
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) remains focused on carrying out its critical mission of advocating for the nation’s 13 million women-owned businesses. The Council recognizes the ongoing commitment of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in ensuring women business owners have access to opportunities to start and grow their business, and in times of crisis, to keep their business afloat. Smaller, community lenders have undoubtedly been at the forefront of providing business owners with the capital they need to keep their employees on payroll and sustain overhead costs.
For that reason, NWBC recently hosted a webinar titled ‘Community Lending Key to Main Street Recovery: Resources and Lessons Learned for Female Founders.’ The webinar included guest speakers Jill Castilla, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond in Oklahoma and NWBC Council Member Jessica Flynn, Founder & CEO of Red Sky, a strategic communications firm in Boise, Idaho.
Jessica shared her experience successfully applying for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) through a community bank in Idaho. As a result, she was able to continue operations and keep her 10 employees on payroll during the pandemic.
Jill shared how she is leading the way in community lending, processing 450 PPP loans that supported local small businesses. Her commitment to breaking down barriers for women and minority small business owners has improved their ability to access capital and provided a model for other community lenders around the country.
“Saving small businesses and the jobs they support is my top priority as SBA Administrator. In the seven weeks after launching the PPP, we’ve rolled out over half a trillion in forgivable loans to more than 4.4 million small businesses and nonprofits,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “I remain committed to helping every small business owner – especially our minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and other entrepreneurs serving disadvantaged communities – not just survive this difficult time, but make it out the other side stronger and ready to expand.”
“Women-owned businesses are truly the engine driving our national economy and small banks and community lenders are the lifelines they need to stay afloat during this pandemic,” said NWBC Chair Liz Sara. “We are encouraged that the SBA has prioritized smaller lenders in its implementation of the second round of CARES Act funding and look forward to working with them to continue to broaden the pool of capital access options for women.”
“Community banks are outperforming all other financial institutions in helping women-owned and minority-owned small businesses access resources to keep their doors open and be prepared for the return of the American economy,” said Jill Castilla, president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. “It is critical for our institutions to reach out to underserved communities and to stand in the gap as accessible and knowledge partners in pursuing these critical SBA resources.”
NWBC and SBA remain committed to working together to ensure that women-owned businesses continue to have increased opportunities to access capital, particularly as they navigate this pandemic. Keeping women-owned enterprises open for business is our shared priority.
About SBA: Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
About NWBC: The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), is an independent, non-partisan federal advisory committee established to provide advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the Administrator of the SBA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Temren Wroge
202-738-3523
Temren.Wroge@sba.gov
Washington, D.C. – (July 17, 2020) – The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a non-partisan, federal advisory committee, is partnering with UPS for an in-depth conversation between Council Member Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; Maria Luisa Boyce, Vice President of UPS Global Public Affairs; and Loretta Greene, Associate Administrator, Office of International Trade (OIT), The U.S. Small Business Administration. They will discuss emerging opportunities for women business owners and entrepreneurs in international trade.
The webinar will take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, from 1:00– 2:00 PM EDT.
The pandemic has fundamentally changed the economic landscape in which small businesses operate. Now more than ever, women business owners and entrepreneurs are looking for innovative ways to pivot and grow their enterprises,” said Nina Roque, Executive Director, NWBC. “For that reason, we are so proud to be partnering with SBA and UPS to deliver a message of hope during this unprecedented time. Together, we want to encourage women business owners to seek opportunities in digital commerce and exporting.”
NWBC’s #WebinarWednesday is a monthly, multi-series webinar that serves as a platform for women entrepreneurs and business owners to connect them to key advocates, experts, and useful resources that can help bolster their knowledge and skills and elevate their entrepreneurial potential. At NWBC, we will continue to prioritize this challenge and strive to make inroads for women-owned businesses in starting and growing their business. The Council regularly convenes women business owners and entrepreneurs from across the country to connect their voices to policymakers in Washington, D.C.
“The U.S. Small Business Administration is tasked with helping small businesses grow their revenue and sales, which impacts the U.S. GDP. We are very much looking forward to taking advantage of trade opportunities for women in business with NWBC,” said Loretta Greene, Associate Administrator, Office of International Trade (OIT), The U.S. Small Business Administration. “For example, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a ground-breaking achievement for U.S. small businesses, and women-owned businesses can benefit from these new commitments and grow their companies through trade with our neighbors.”
“The coronavirus pandemic has brought about significant challenges for small businesses, but exporting and diversified supply chains can help companies come through this crisis and be better prepared to mitigate future disruptions,” said Maria Luisa Boyce, Vice President of UPS Global Public Affairs. “UPS is proud to work with organizations like the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) and government agencies such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) to equip entrepreneurs with the tools they need to grow their businesses.”
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About 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 policy recommendations 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.
About The U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. UPS is committed to operating more sustainably – for customers, the environment and the communities we serve around the world. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. UPS was awarded America’s Best Customer Service company for Shipping and Delivery services by Newsweek magazine; Fortune magazine’s Most Valuable Brand in Transportation; and top rankings on the JUST 100 list for social responsibility, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, and the Harris Poll Reputation Quotient, among other prestigious rankings and awards. The company can be found on the web at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com .
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Temren Wroge
202-738-3523
Temren.Wroge@sba.gov
NWBC and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) Conduct a Study on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (August 12, 2020) – The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a non-partisan federal advisory committee created to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners, commissions the first comprehensive study examining the factors that may influence women’s participation in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs—also known as America’s Seed Fund.
NWBC intends for this report to provide a baseline understanding of the inclusion of women entrepreneurs and female principal investigators in the advanced technology business realm funded by SBIR/STTR. The report also highlights targeted efforts to increase the involvement of women by the 11 funding agencies and SBA-funded entrepreneurial support organizations.
This study uses award-level administrative data provided by funding agencies to the SBA and is publicly available on SBIR.gov.
“Female business owners and entrepreneurs in all types of industries continue to grow in number and influence,” said NWBC Women in STEM Subcommittee Chair Monica Stynchula. “NWBC is committed to advocating for women in business, including STEM innovators and entrepreneurs, and this study will help inform the Council’s policy recommendations to Congress, the White House, and SBA set to be released later this year. Federal programs like SBIR and STTR give women the opportunity to innovate and launch or expand their enterprise.”
The SBIR and STTR programs provide $4 billion each year to a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses. Eleven Federal agencies fund technology across sectors to stimulate technological innovation, meet Federal research and development (R&D) needs, and increase commercialization to transition R&D into impact.
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About 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 policy recommendations 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.
About the SBIR and STTR Programs The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated, and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs. Central to the STTR program is the partnership between small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The STTR program requires the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.
Contact:
Jordan Chapman
202-941-6001
Jordan.Chapman@sba.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (May 30, 2023) – The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), announced today that it will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM EDT.
This meeting will allow the Council to hear from subject matter experts on issues related to women’s entrepreneurship. After opening with guest remarks, the meeting will also allow Access to Capital and Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Roberta McCullough, Women in STEM Subcommittee Chair Selena Rodgers Dickerson, and Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Subcommittee Chair Kathy Cochran to provide updates to the full Council on the activities of each of their respective subcommittees.
Council Members Pamela Prince-Eason and Katica Roy will then moderate a panel featuring representatives from Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBUs) and leaders in federal contracting across the federal government. The focus of this conversation will be how women business owners can connect to contracting opportunities and include:
- Alisa Sheard, U.S. Small Business Administration
- Calvin J. Mitchell Jr., U.S. Department of Education
- Tamara L. Miles, U.S. Department of Energy
- Denise Benjamin Sirmons, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Shelly Thomas, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The public will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments in advance of the meeting. These questions will be responded to during a session led by Council Member Samantha Abrams.
The Council encourages public comment and feedback. NWBC staff and/or a Council Member will read the first five questions or statements with most relevance to the topic of women’s business enterprise. Responses can be submitted through the Eventbrite registration page or by emailing info@nwbc.gov with any comments, though all responses must be submitted by June 6th.
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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 issues of importance to women business owners. To learn more, please visit: www.NWBC.gov.