Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
A new study underscores the old adage that the most important thing in business is location, location, location.
In the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, the number of women-owned firms has increased 33 to 59 percent in the past seven years, according to a 1999 report by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners (NFWBO).
Bruce Rosenthal of NFWBO attributes the overall growth to several factors: the strong economy; an exodus of women from corporate America; more women entrepreneurs who serve as role models to their friends, sisters and mothers; and the increasing amount of data available on women entrepreneurs. "Information empowers women and makes them realize business ownership is a viable career option," says Rosenthal.
The booming high-tech industry on the West Coast, in particular, has drawn large numbers of women entrepreneurs to the area. Michael Evans, director of real estate services for Ernst & Young LLP, points out that many West Coast women, especially in areas like Silicon Valley and the Microsoft-centric Washington state, opt to leave high-tech companies to create firms of their own.
New In Town
SBA help is around the corner for womenentrepreneurs.
Recognizing the importance--and distinct needs--of women in theentrepreneurial world, the SBA recently gave a total of $8 millionin grants for the development of 25 new women's businesscenters (WBCs). This brings the total number of WBCs to 80nationwide, with locations in 47 states, Puerto Rico andWashington, DC.
Most of the new centers expand programs that are already inplace, except for a handful that begin operating from ground zero.(A brief roundup of five of these centers follows.) For a completelist of all the new centers, visit http://www.entrepreneurmag.com/entrepreneur.hts;for more information on all 80 centers, visit http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wbcs.html.
Women's Business Center of Colorado Springs
(719) 327-2039
Provides entrepreneurial training, technical assistance, acomputer lab and a microloan program to women in both Pueblo andColorado Springs, Colorado; target population is economicallydisadvantaged Hispanic women, but services are not limited to thisgroup.
Women's Business Center of Northwest Florida
(850) 484-2765
Offers general counseling and business training courses,outreach services to military spouses and women leaving the armedforces, a mentoring program, and Internet training and access.
Center for Women & Enterprise
(617) 536-0700
Provides entrepreneurial training focused primarily on helpingwomen in Providence, Rhode Island, access debt capital to start andgrow businesses; also an intermediary for the women'sprequalification program.
Texas Center for Women's Business Enterprise
(254) 773-4815
Serves women in the cities of Killeen, Belton and Temple; offersa core how-to business curriculum and technical assistance tostart-up and existing businesses; provides information onagribusiness.
Women and Technology Partnership
(701) 328-5884
Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, this center has formedpartnerships with eight colleges and universities to provide womenin remote areas with online entrepreneurial training to starthomebased businesses; a laptop lending program is also in theworks.
Contact Source
National Foundation for Women Business Owners, (301)495-4975, http://www.nfwbo.org
