In this issue, we want to shed light on the status of U.S. women-owned businesses.   A recent publication, titled "21st Century Barriers to Women's Entrepreneurship," provides a clear picture of where women business owners stand today. 

"The Committee identified that:            

• Women-owned businesses increased from 4.6 percent of all firms in 1972 to 28.7 percent of all firms in 2007.
• The growth rate of women-owned firms rose by 20 percent from 2002 to 2007.
• The share of revenue generated by women-owned firms rose from just 0.3 percent of all receipts in 1972 to 3.9 percent in 2007.
• The growth of women-owned firms outpaces that of all other firm types; women-
  owned businesses added roughly 500,000 jobs between 1997 and 2007, while the rest of privately held firms lost jobs" (Page 5).

"MINORITY WOMEN: HELPING DRIVE SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH"

"From 1997 to 2013, while the total number of female-owned firms in the United States grew by only 59 percent-one and a half times the national average-a closer look at the statistics shows that women of color are the catalyst behind much of this growth:

• African American women-owned businesses grew by 258 percent;
• Latina women-owned businesses grew by 180 percent;
• Asian American women-owned businesses grew by 156 percent;
• Native American and Alaska Native women-owned businesses grew by 108 percent; and
• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women-owned businesses grew by 21 percent" (Pages 14-15).

"In fact, projections by the U.S. Census show that women of color will make up the majority of women by 2045, with Hispanic women leading this population growth.  While non-minority women will make up 62 percent of the female population in 2015, their numbers are projected to fall to 47 percent of the female population in 2050, when 53 percent of all women will be women of color" (Page 15).

 "KEY FINDINGS AND NEXT STEPS"

"Women entrepreneurs still face challenges getting fair access to capital.  Only 4 percent of the total dollar value of all small business loans goes to women entrepreneurs.  The report proposes expanding microloans and makes SBA's Intermediary Loan Program permanent to provide more capital to women entrepreneurs. 

"Women entrepreneurs still face challenges getting equal access to federal contracts.  The U.S. Government has never met its goal of awarding 5 percent of federal contracts to women-owned business.  If they did, women-owned businesses would have access to marketplace opportunities worth at least $4 billion each year.  The report proposes changing federal law giving women-owned businesses the opportunity to win sole source federal contracts."

"Women entrepreneurs still face challenges getting relevant business training and counseling.  Although Women's Business Centers are in nearly all 50 states and they successfully provide specialized business training and counseling to women business owners, these centers have not been re-authorized since the 1990s and funding has remained flat for the same time period.  The report proposes reauthorizing and funding the centers to provide adequate business training and counseling to women entrepreneurs, especially low income women" (Page 1).

Source: "21st Century Barriers to Women's Entrepreneurship: Majority Report of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship."  July 23, 2014. Maria Cantwell, Chairwoma

n.  Revised Edition v. 1. 

to increase the number of capable and qualified Sacramento-area small businesses with access to government marketplaces.

We execute our mission by performing three core tasks:

• Providing businesses with an understanding of the requirements of government contracting and small business regulations, and acquisition processes and procedures;
• Providing businesses with the market know-how and resources they need to identify the most optimal federal, state, and local government customers and opportunities;
• Providing government agencies with the support and collaboration they need to reach and hear-from the small business suppliers they need.