I-WE IN THE News

• women owned businesses struggle to get financing

  • Forbes 12/15/2019, “Viek believes the lack of growth capital available for women-owned businesses demonstrates a market failure, and a lost opportunity to increase the nation’s wealth. The survey Viek conducted showed a “missing middle” of women-owned businesses with annual revenues between $250,000 and $5 million who struggle to finance their business growth.”

• Senators have chance to double funding for women entrepreneurs

  • The Hill 10/22/2019, “For over 30 years, the Women’s Business Center program under the Small Business Administration has provided business training, counseling, mentoring and access to capital to women entrepreneurs nationwide. Each center receives an annual grant of up to $150,000—an amount that has not changed in 31 years”

• Don't overlook women-owned businesses

  • American Banker 4/16/2018, "Women entrepreneurs are the sleeping goddesses of our economy. When a woman business owner is successful, she buys a house and invests in her kids’ education. At the same time, her purchases, donations and taxes circulate locally."

• Business Ownership Will Close the Wealth Gap

  • Huffpost 5/5/2017, "Business ownership reduces wealth inequality. The median net worth of business owners is two and a half times greater than that of nonbusiness owners, and for African Americans the difference is eight times higher."

• Investing in women entrepreneurs nets a huge return on investment

  • The Hill 2/13/17, "Our organizations, which represent micro-businesses and women entrepreneurs, propose the government make a significant investment in women-owned businesses. This investment would increase business training services, prioritize gender parity in access to capital, and increase federal contracting opportunities—giving women entrepreneurs the coaching, capital and connections to markets they need to grow and thrive."

• How to Tame the Wild West of Marketplace Lending

  • American Banker 8/12/2016, "Online alternative lenders offer a variety of advantages from their use of automation, big data and crowdfunding to reach small businesses. They offer quick loan decisions with a stripped-down application process . . . But it can also be predatory, especially to the unaware, inexperienced borrower."

• Invest in Women Business Ownership for a Robust Economy

  • HuffPost 2/12/2016, "Let’s face it - investing in women-owned businesses translates into wealth creation. Even if the wealth that’s created is modest, it means more sustainable household income and healthier communities."

• New state law gives microlenders a more even playing field

  • Sacramento Bee 10/18/2015, "By signing Senate Bill 197, Gov. Jerry Brown took one small step to making sure that small business lending is not predatory for California’s entrepreneurs."

• Small business not just another special-interest group

  • San Francisco Chronicle 4/8/2015, "It’s unproductive to try to downplay our nation’s job creators as just another group lobbying politicians for their special interests. Instead, take issue with those trying to appropriate small businesses’ good name in an attempt to gain political points and pass harmful policies."

• Boosting Women-Owned Businesses Will Boost the Economy

  • HuffPost 2/19/2015, "Women-owned businesses can be found in all industries and sizes, but many of them are hidden in plain sight in home-based enterprises. These small businesses are making a difference in local economies — even those run from the family dining room table."

• Another Gender Gap: Business Ownership

  • HuffPost 9/23/2014, "During their first year in business, women entrepreneurs receive approximately 80 percent less capital and receive only 5 percent of equity capital annually compared to male-owned businesses (Kauffman Foundation). Government procurement is less than four percent. And women’s market share of revenues declined while the total percentage of women-owned firms grew."

• Micro-Business Is the Backbone of the U.S. 

  • HuffPost 1/23/2014, "Very small businesses create the jobs. Period. Firms with one to four employees, known as micro-businesses, are stronger than other sized businesses when it comes to job creation. Yet most, if not all, of our job creation efforts are focused on incentives that help large businesses create jobs."

• Government action needs to target microbusinesses

  • Washington Post 2/3/2012, "What very small and small businesses need most is access to capital and business assistance."

FURTHER READING

Explore the landscape of women-owned business through additional studies and articles