Ohio Women-Owned Businesses Get Some Much-Needed Support

By Katie Browder-Person

The Ohio Department of Development and Women's Business Enterprise Council Ohio River Valley (WBEC ORV) have joined forces to further develop and promote the success of Ohio-based women-owned businesses. This new partnership enables businesses certified by WBEC ORV to also be cross-certified into the Ohio WBE program with minimal paperwork, as well as making them eligible for participation in the Ohio Micro-Loan Program at a 0% interest rate.

Governor Mike DeWine expressed his enthusiasm for this collaboration: “Ohio remains focused on strengthening Ohio’s small businesses,” said Governor DeWine. “Women-owned businesses often face unnecessary barriers to success, and we are dedicated to breaking down these barriers and providing more opportunities to help women-owned we are dedicated to breaking down these barriers and providing more opportunities to help women-owned businesses thrive.”

This new agreement was spearheaded by Development’s Minority Business Development Division, which works with emerging businesses to help them reach their maximum potential. According to WBEC ORV Executive Director Lynnise Smith, one of the goals of this initiative is to reduce the burden associated with certification procedures: "Historically, WBEs have been discouraged by certification processes due to an administrative overload."

Thanks to this strategic collaboration between two major forces in the world of business, more doors are now open for female entrepreneurs in the state of Ohio. By enabling faster certification processes and access to lower-interest loan programs, these organizations are striving to support small business growth and ensure that female entrepreneurs can continue flourishing throughout Ohio.

Businesses can reach out to a Minority Business Assistance Center near them for help with business planning, access to capital, and state business certifications.

WBEC ORV is operated by the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Business Development and Entrepreneurship Department and is one of 15 Regional Partner Organizations across the United States authorized to administer the national WBENC certification to women-owned companies in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

For more information about the MBAC network, visit MBAC.Development.Ohio.Gov.

Local Events

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