Online registration is now available for NWBC’s upcoming Town Hall Meetings for Women Entrepreneurs in Columbus, Ohio on March 12 and Houston, Texas on April 3. These half-day events will allow members of the Council to hear directly from women business owners about their priorities, challenges and concerns, informing the Council’s future policy recommendations to the President, Congress and the Small Business Administration.
The Town Hall Meetings are free, but space is limited, so advance registration is required. Visit www.nwbc.gov for more information or to register.
NWBC Responds to Proposed Rule on Women-Owned Small Business Contracting
Earlier this month, the National Women’s Business Council responded to the SBA’s recently-announced proposed rule regarding women-owned small business federal contract assistance procedures in a letter to SBA Administrator Steven Preston. In the letter, the Council recommended discarding the current proposed rule and convening a blue ribbon panel to draft an alternative rule within a six-month time period.
Council Member Recognized with National Award
Council member Rebecca Herwick, President and CEO of St. Louis-based Global Products, Inc., was named a recipient of the 2008 Enterprising Women of the Year Award. In addition to this award, Herwick recently was appointed to the Missouri Head Injury Advisory Council.
NWBC Marks Anniversary of Women’s Business Ownership Act
Council member Rebecca Herwick and NWBC Executive Director Margaret Barton both participated in panels this month celebrating the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988. This seminal piece of legislation, often known by its bill number HR 5050, improved women business owners’ access to credit, expanded data collection on women-owned businesses by the Census Bureau, gave birth to the Women’s Business Center program, and created the National Women’s Business Council.
Celebration of Women’s History Month Planned for March
The National Women’s Business Council will participate in an event marking the celebration of Women’s History Month in March. The celebration will be held Thursday, March 27 in Washington, DC.
National Procurement Conference Scheduled for April
NWBC once again will be participating in the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization’s (OSDBU) 18th Annual Procurement Conference at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on April 24, 2008. The national one-day conference is geared to fostering business partnerships between the Federal government, prime contractors, and small, minority, veteran-owned, HubZone, and women-owned businesses.
NWBC Staff Briefs International Visitors
Council Executive Director Margaret Barton spoke to women business leaders from seven European countries during a luncheon on February 4. The meeting, organized through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, was part of a three week professional exchange program. On February 6, Council staff member Allison Gilmore met with two women from Turkmenistan, also as part of the State Department’s International Visitors Program.
Senate Addresses Women’s Contracting Rule
On January 30, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing to discuss the Small Business Administration’s proposed rule to implement a women’s contracting program. Joining other critics opposed to this proposed rule, Committee members strongly urged the SBA to scrap the current proposal and, instead, create a rule that better represents the spirit of the law which originally created the program.
Proposed 2009 SBA Budget Includes Reduced Funding for Crucial Programs
On February 4, President Bush announced a proposed FY 2009 budget for the U.S. Small Business Administration. While this proposed budget increases small business lending capacity by 37 percent and increases funding for SBA’s ongoing operational reforms, it also includes cuts to other programs, including Small Business Development Centers and Women’s Business Centers.
Federal Stimulus Package Includes Small Business Provisions
On February 13, President Bush signed into law HR 5140, The Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008. In addition to providing rebates to taxpayers, the economic stimulus package includes two provisions to assist small businesses.