June 20, 2004
NASE Calls on Congress to
Support Women Business Centers
In a letter to Members of Congress last
week, the NASE urged legislators to support
a bill that directs the
U.S. Small Business Administration to
award 48 percent of Women Business Center
grants to existing centers. The legislation,
Women’s Sustainability Recovery Act (H.R.
4376), would prevent 53 centers from
closing their doors on June 30 due to lack
of funding.
Women’s Business Centers are located across
the country, and offer programs, networking,
workshops and mentoring for women-owned
businesses. Funding is provided by a grant
from the SBA’s office of
Women's Business Ownership, and
contributions from corporations,
foundations, and individual donors.
Have you used a Women’s Business Center in
your area? If so, your story could help
Congress understand the importance of this
funding. Visit the NASE Legislative Action
Center at
advocacy.nase.org and Tell Your Story.
Also at the Legislative Action Center, write
your Members of Congress and encourage them
to support H.R. 4376.
NWBC Appoints New
Members, Discusses Future Work
The National Women’s Business Center (NWBC)
met last week to discuss research, progress
within government agencies for women
business owners and future projects, as well
as to appoint three new members to the
committee.
NWBC is a bi-partisan Federal advisory
council 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. The Council's mission is to promote
bold initiatives, policies and programs
designed to support women's business
enterprises at all stages of development in
the public and private sector marketplaces,
from start-up to success to significance.
Members of the Council are prominent women
business owners and leaders of women's
business organizations.
The newly appointed members were Mary
MacRae, immediate past president of the
National Association of Women Business
Owners; Maria Guadalupe Taxman,
member of the board of directors of the
United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;
and Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO of
SBTV.com.
U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy
Administrator Melanie Sabelhaus also
presented an update of the agency’s efforts
with women micro-business owners thus far
this year, including an increase in loans
and start-up help.
NWBC Conference Call: Sharing Lessons Learned
Listen to the National Women’s Business
Council monthly teleconference call, June
22, 2004, at 3:00 p.m. EST, where successful
women business owners will discuss the
lessons they have learned from growing and
expanding their business. To participate in
the call, dial 1-877-326-2337, and enter
code 3687613#.
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