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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesHOUSE PASSES WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER BILL

HOUSE PASSES WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER BILL

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to improve the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Center program, V.I. Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen announced Friday.
The bill increases the program's funding by $3 million — to $11 million — for Fiscal Year 2000, and reduces the amount of private funding that centers are required to secure in their fifth and final year of operation under the federal law.
"Between 1987 and 1992 employment at women-owned businesses rose by more than 100 percent, and women are starting new firms at twice the rate of all other businesses," Christensen noted.
Seventy Women's Business Centers in 36 states have been providing women with the technical training and counseling that they need to succeed in business since 1988.
"This legislation will allow us to extend that success to each of the 50 states and territories so that women entrepreneurs will have the services they need," Christensen said, noting she has lobbied the SBA to establish a Women's Business Center in the Virgin Islands and "I am told that the Virgin Islands should be receiving a Women's Business Center in the very near future."
An identical bill will be considered in the Senate in the spring, Christensen said.

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