Congresswoman Tenney Joins Colleague in Introducing Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today joined with Congresswoman Sharice Davids to introduce the Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act. This bipartisan bill reauthorizes and strengthens the Women’s Business Centers (WBC) program, which consists of a national network of entrepreneurship centers for low-cost counseling and training for women interested in starting, growing, and expanding small businesses.

“Women-owned businesses are a major force in our economy. The Women’s Business Centers program empowers female entrepreneurs to cultivate their businesses. As a long-time small business owner, I am honored to support legislation to help bolster this program and provide additional oversight and good governance measures to increase its effectiveness and accountability,” said Tenney.

“Women-owned businesses employ 9.4 million people nationwide and contribute $1.2 trillion to our economy each year, but throughout the pandemic, female entrepreneurs have been more likely to close their doors. By properly funding resources like Women’s Business Centers, we can increase access to vital counseling and training services that help set entrepreneurs up for success,” said Davids. “The Third District has an amazing entrepreneurial ecosystem, and I’m proud to introduce legislation that will spur even further innovation and economic opportunity here at home.”

In 1988, the Small Business Administration (SBA) created the WBC program to help women overcome barriers to building successful businesses.

This bill would reauthorize the WBC program through Fiscal Year 2025 and increase the cap on individual center grants for the first time. It also would establish an accreditation program to ensure all WBC provide quality service and counseling as well as additional oversight to ensure the proper use of taxpayer funds.

Full text of the bill can be found here.