Zonta International is a global organization of individuals dedicated to building a better world for women and girls. The Zonta USA Advocacy Action Center is a tool for our members in the United States and other individuals who share our commitment to gender equality to take action to improve the lives of women and girls. With your help, we can make a difference. In addition to the actions below, click here to support our joint efforts with UNICEF USA to end child marriage in the United States.
Women-owned businesses have grown 114% over the last two decades, with a large focus of this growth happening after the COVID-19 pandemic. Women have made history this past year by running for the first time more than 10% of companies on the Fortune 500, according to Fortune. The share of all women-owned employers increased from 9.8 percent in 2019 to 10.2 percent in 2023, while men's share decreased from 19.4 percent to 18.3 percent. However, still less than half of U.S. businesses are owned by women and startups with all-women teams only receive 1.9% of venture capital funding.
Women are excelling as leaders in the business world but are in need of equal federal support. The bipartisan Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act (H.R. 5361 and S.2184) sponsored by U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids and Sen. Benjamin Cardin along with 21 cosponsoring representatives and senators, would not only support current women business leaders but also assist aspiring women leaders through training and resources.
“While women-owned businesses employ 9.4 million people nationwide and contribute $1.2 trillion to our economy each year, these entrepreneurs often face increased challenges in starting and growing a business. By properly funding resources like Women’s Business Centers, we can increase access to credit and vital training services that help set entrepreneurs up for success,” said Davids.
The Women’s Business Center (WBC) program was established 35 years ago to help women entrepreneurs succeed, and now boasts nearly 150 locations throughout the U.S. WBCs provide free, to low-cost training and focus on women who want to start, grow, and expand their small business. The enrolled entrepreneurs receive business training, workshops, counseling, and access to capital programs targeted at women business owners.
The Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act would increase federal support to WBCs by doubling the maximum annual grant award to $300,000 for individual centers, reauthorizing the WBC program for four years, and increasing the total authorization level for the first time since the program began. The bill also establishes an accreditation program run by the Association of Women’s Business Centers to ensure all WBCs provide excellent service and counseling.
Please use our pre-drafted letters to urge your representative and senators to co-sponsor and support the Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act (H.R. 5361 and S. 2184) bill. If they have already sponsored or co-sponsored the bill, you can send a message of thanks.