Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes for Reauthorization of Women's Business Center Program

The 'Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act' Would Extend and Improve Women’s Business Center Program, Intended to Expand Opportunities forWomen Entrepreneurs

Read the Bill Here

Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressmembers Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) in introducing the 'Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act,' which reauthorizes and improves upon the Women’s Business Center Program. The Women’s Business Center Program, originally authorized in 1988, was created to increase access to resources and opportunities for women entrepreneurs. 

“Women-owned small businesses – both in New York and across the country – are vital parts of our robust and diverse American economy,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Small businesses are a cornerstone of economic development in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. By continuing to invest in women entrepreneurs, we are ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and opportunities to establish and grow their small businesses.” 

The 'Women's Business Centers Improvement Act' augments federal support forWomen’s Business Centers (WBCs) by doubling the maximum annual grant allocation to $300,000 per center, reauthorizing the program for four additional years, and increasing the overall authorization level for the first time since the program's inception. 

Additionally, the bill mandates the establishment of an accreditation program, managed by the Association of Women’s Business Centers, to ensure that all WBCs deliver exceptional service and counseling. 

Congressman Dan Goldman is prioritizing the needs of NY-10's small businesses.

Earlier this month, the Congressman cosponsored the 'Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act,’ which would institute a Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program through the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), distributing grants to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

In May, Goldman cosponsored the bipartisan ‘Employee Equity Investment Act’ (EEIA), which would incentivize employee business ownership by reducing the cost barriers that small business owners currently face when transferring ownership to their employees and empower owners to preserve family legacies and community jobs.

Additionally, the Congressman cosponsored the ‘Child Care Small Business Insight and Improvement Act’ to increase U.S. Small Business Administration support forchildcare small businesses. This bill would expand the U.S. Small Business Administration’s role in supporting for-profit childcare small businesses across the country.

###