Women’s Business Ownership in the United States

The Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) provides assistance to current
and potential women business owners and acts as their advocate in the public
and private sectors. OWBO assists women in becoming full partners in economic
development by providing business training, counseling, mentoring, and other
assistance through representatives in local SBA of?ces, Women’s Business Centers
(WBCs), and mentoring roundtables. Each WBC is tailored to meet the needs of its
individual community and places a special emphasis on helping women who are
socially and economically disadvantaged.

Assistance covers every stage of business, from startup to going public. There are
WBCs in almost every State and U.S.Territory.

OWBO works with other SBA programs, Federal agencies, and private
sector organizations to leverage its resources and improve opportunities
for women-owned businesses to access Federal procurement and international
trade opportunities. OWBO also works with the National Women’s Business
Council and the Department of Labor to maintain the most current research on
women’s business ownership.

SBA has loan guaranty programs to help women access the credit and capital
they need to start and grow successful businesses. The 7(a) Loan Guaranty
Program offers a number of effective ways to ?nance business needs, including
unsecured smaller loans and revolving lines of credit. The 504 Program provides
long-term, ?xed-rate ?nancing for major ?xed assets, such as land and buildings,
through certi?ed development programs.

Equity ?nancing is available through the Small Business Investment Company
Program. The Microloan Program offers direct small loans, combined with
business assistance, through SBA-licensed intermediaries nationwide. The SBA does
not offer grants for small businesses.

For further information, contact the Women’s Business Ownership representative in your SBA district of?ce. Phone, 202–205–6673. Email, owbo@sba.gov. Internet, http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/ sbaprograms/onlinewbc/index.html.

Field Operations The Office of Field Operations provides management
direction and oversight to SBA’s 10 regional and 68 district of?ces, acting
as the liaison between the district of?ces, the Administration’s program
delivery system, and the headquarters administrative and program of?ces.

For a complete listing of the regional, district, and disaster ?eld of?ces of the
SBA, including addresses, telephone numbers, and key of?cials, visit www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html.

For further information, contact the Office of Field Operations. Phone, 202–205–6808.

For further information, contact the Office of Public Communications and Public Liaison, Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416. Phone, 202–205–6740. Internet, http://www.sba.gov.