In Focus: Some resources like initiatives, schemes & grants for women entrepreneurship
#WomenEntrepreneurs #AlabamaBusiness #WomenInBusiness #AlabamaGrowth #Entrepreneurship #WomenEmpowerment #SupportForStartups #BusinessSuccess
Alabama, known as the “Yellowhammer State” for its natural beauty and resilience, is also becoming a stronghold for women entrepreneurship. Ranked 23rd in the US for women-owned businesses, Alabama is making remarkable strides in promoting female- led ventures across various industries.
In fact, the state has a growing number of women-led startups, particularly in industries such as – healthcare, technology & education.
How Alabama is Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
Supportive initiatives such as the Alabama Women Entrepreneur and the Women’s Business Center offer crucial resources – ranging from networking opportunities to access to capital – empowering women to innovate and grow. Moreover, Alabama’s business-friendly environment, affordable living & skilled workforce create the perfect setting for women to succeed.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Growth, Support & Success
With a 57% growth in women-owned businesses since 2007, women entrepreneurs are actively contributing to the state’s economic development, creating jobs and fostering innovation. So, Alabama is proving itself to be a state where women entrepreneurs can flourish.
Here are some resources like schemes, initiatives and grants for women entrepreneurs in Alabama.
> Women’s Business Center of North Alabama
The Women’s Business Center caters to the needs of small business – both in the start – up and existing business phases. To be successful, you need access to resources that help you gain knowledge and receive the guidance and support required to succeed, and that is what they try to do.
What is their mission? As a project of The Catalyst, the mission of the Women’s Business Center is to help women start and grow small businesses in North Alabama. In so doing, we aim to empower women in all stages of business as a premier resource to provide as many opportunities as possible.
https://catalystcenter.org/programs/womens-business-center/wbc-north-alabama/
> 74 Women Grants for Alabama
A number of grants are available like – grants for women entrepreneurs, seed money to individual women, college grants for women, small business grants for women, enterprise grants and grants for minority women.
https://alabama.grantwatch.com/cat/39/women-grants.html
Alabama Government Agencies
> Alabama Secretary of State
The business division of the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office helps women business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs organize and register their business. Services include business forms, business entity and name searches, document copies, certificate of existence, name reservation menu, domestic formation, foreign registration, business filing amendments, domestic dissolutions, certificate of withdrawal, trademark application, and other services.
> Alabama Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs – GOMA – Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise
The Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) is directly focused on issues that affect women and minorities in the State of Alabama. Its mission is – to ensure the inclusion of women and minorities in the success and prosperity of the state.
In addition to critical issues affecting women and minorities like – healthcare, education, criminal justice, and employment, economic development helps improve the quality of life and economic well-being of people in rural areas across the state. This includes access to the opportunities & tools necessary to start and grow businesses.
> Alabama Small Business Administration – SBA
The SBA’s Alabama district office provides many services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.
> Alabama Small Business Commission – Atlas Alabama
If your business is just an idea or already launched, you can find guidance on topics that effect where you are on your entrepreneurial journey here – from planning and launching to managing and growing your business.
Resources include – starting a business, developing a business plan, determining startup costs, choosing a location, selecting a name, taxes, licenses and permits, insurance, best practices, closing a business, opening new locations, funding for expansion, hiring new employees, and mergers and acquisitions.
> Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Seed Funding
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) seed funding programs encourage US small businesses – to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization.
Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-alabama
Alabama Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> William R. Bennett Alabama International Trade Center – AITC – at The University of Alabama
The WR Bennett Alabama International Trade Center at the University of Alabama is a specialty program of the Alabama Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the US Small Business Administration.
Services include – one-on-one trade advising including export readiness, training programs, and an event calendar and workshop schedule.
Customized market research includes – export research and import/supply chain optimization.
Trade training includes – export financing, website internationalization, and startup assistance.
> REACH Women’s Business Center
Clearly, the mission of the REACH Women’s Business Center is – to help women set up & grow small businesses in Central Alabama. Subsequently, the organization aims to empower women in all stages of business and to provide as many opportunities as possible.
The REACH Women’s Business Center is in-tune with the needs of small business – both in the start-up and existing business phases. Its suite of services and resources help Central and South Alabama women start a business, grow or strengthen a business, finance a business, do business with the government, and accelerate an existing business.
> The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship
This Women’s Business Center helps women start and grow small businesses in Alabama. Its goal is to enable and empower women in all business stages by providing the support and resources to succeed. The Women’s Business Center serves North Alabama.
The REACH (Regional Economic Assistance Communicating Hope) Women’s Business Center is located in Clanton, AL. It empowers, trains, and equips entrepreneurs and encourage small business, to strengthen communities and stimulate business growth throughout Alabama. The REACH Women’s Business Center serves Central and South Alabama.
> Alabama Small Business Development Center – ASBDC
The Alabama Small Business Development Center network is a statewide, inter- institutional program – tailored to enhance economic growth in Alabama, by providing management and technical assistance to small businesses. Professional business advisors support 10 Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) located at member university partners across the state. The Alabama SBDC supports all counties with additional locations in Florence, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Livingston, Montgomery, Auburn, Troy, and Mobile.
> Alabama APEX Accelerator
The Alabama APEX Accelerator helps women business owners identify, compete for, and win government contracts. Formerly known as the Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), the organization provides professional advising and bid matching services.
Specialty business advisors are located at six locations across Alabama. APEX Alabama primarily works with small businesses, but does work with larger businesses that need assistance fulfilling their small business award obligations.
> National Association of Women Business Owners – NAWBO Alabama
While the National Association of Women Business Owners is a national organization, NAWBO Alabama delivers – local networking, education, inspiration, advocacy, partner resources and more to the women entrepreneurs of our state. The organization represents everything from start-ups to multi-million-dollar companies and even franchises. Growing a business can be tough, but it helps if there is a support system in place.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-alabama
> Funding – State and Federal Sources
> U.S. Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration (SBA) funding programs provide – financial assistance to start or grow your business, or to help you recover after a declared disaster.
So, you can start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA or find an investor for your business; or get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. Besides, you can protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond & also look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.
> Alabama Launchpad
Alabama Launchpad is an early-stage seed fund investor – driving innovation and job growth through startup competitions and ongoing mentoring for Alabama entrepreneurs. Since 2006, Alabama Launchpad has funded 110 startups with a current valuation of $1+Billion.
> Grants.gov
Managed by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Grants.gov is an e-government initiative operating under the governance of the US Office of Management and Budget.
Their mission is – to provide a common website for federal agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities and for grantees to find and apply to them.
The office provides a centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. Today, the Grants.gov system houses information on over 1,000
grant programs and vets grant applications for federal grant-making agencies. So, using the Grants.gov system makes it faster, easier and more cost effective for grant applicants to electronically interact with federal grant-making agencies.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business-in-alabama
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
