WIPP Action Alert: Support Bill to Boost Women Contracting

Help get larger contracts in the hands of woman business owners. If you have not done so already, please urge your Senators to support S. 2172, the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act. Click here to take action! And if you have contacted your Senate offices, we thank you for your continued support in this effort to see this important bill become law.

This legislation removes existing barriers to federal contracting officers who award contracts to women owned businesses. Boosting the size and number of federal contracts will help spur economic growth by allowing successful women-owned small businesses to compete for and win larger contracts; enabling them to hire additional employees and grow their businesses.

Write your Senators and tell them that you support the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act and that they should too. Urge them to sign-on as co-sponsors of this legislation. To make your voice heard to your Senators, please click here and follow the instructions.

WIPP is a national nonpartisan public policy organization, advocating on behalf of nearly 1 million women-owned businesses representing 61 business organization. WIPP provides timely economic policy information and identifies important trends and opportunities to its membership. Click here to read WIPP's Nonpartisan Policy Statement.

 

888.488.WIPP ~ www.WIPP.org

SBA Hosts 14-City Matchmaker Conference to Connect Small Businesses with Teaming and Federal Contract Opportunities

SBA News Release Date: March 20, 2012

 

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Small Business Administration will host the fourth of its free Mentor-Protégé Matchmaking Conference series in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 21.  The program gives small disadvantaged businesses access to guidance on federal contracting, face-to-face meetings and opportunities to team with larger businesses and graduates of the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program. 

 

During the forums, small businesses will learn how to market themselves to the federal government and go after government contracting opportunities.  They will also get an overview of the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program – a tool of the SBA’s 8(a) program that encourages mentors to team with a protégé or smaller firm to help them with management and technical assistance, financial assistance and access to joint ventures and federal contracting opportunities.

 

“Although we are encouraged by the economic indicators trending upward, we are still facing challenging economic times,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills.  “That’s why it’s important that we make sure that more federal contracts get into the hands of small businesses that drive the nation’s economy and create jobs.  These forums will go a long way in making sure that small businesses know how to leverage their companies and team with viable partners to take their businesses to the next level.”

 

The forums will also feature a discussion of strategic alliance and joint venture opportunities, a Q&A session and face-to-face and virtual business matchmaking sessions with larger businesses and companies that have graduated from the 8(a) program. 

 

Small disadvantaged businesses and 8(a) firms interested in attending must register at:

 http://sba.mybusinessmatches.com/buyers/generalinfo. Approximately 300 small businesses will be matched prior to their meetings based on their compatibility.

 

The first three matchmaking conferences took place in Washington, D.C., in January and Atlanta, Ga., and Orlando, Fla., in February.  The list of the remaining cities scheduled is as follows:

 Los Angeles, Calif. (March 21)

• Houston, Texas (March 27)
• San Antonio, Texas (March 29)
• Chicago, Ill. (April 5)
• Denver, Colo. (April 11)
• Boston, Mass. (May 10)
• Newark, N.J. (May 23)
• Seattle, Wash. (June 7)
• Kansas City, Mo. (June 21)
• Sacramento, Calif. (July 24)
• Cleveland, Ohio (August 7) 

For more information about the SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program, visit: www.sba.gov/content/mentor-protégé-program and to learn more about the Mentor-Protégé Matchmaking Conference, visit: http://sba.mybusinessmatches.com/buyers/generalinfo.

SBA Celebrates Women’s History Month

Our regional SBA office recently hosted a Women-owned Business Panel in celebration of Women’s History Month. The following women volunteered their time to speak on the panel which was moderated by Whitney Keyes of Whitney Keyes Productions:

• Natalie Barnes, the Owners Alliance
• Maria Beck, Andelcare
• Kay Hirai, Studio 904
• Tanya Jimale, JTS Management
• Laurie Simon, Ombrella, Inc.
• Karen Whorton, Reusies
  

Did you know? Women-owned businesses employ more than 7 million workers and generate over $1 trillion in revenue each year.There are 7.8 million women-owned businesses in America

• They grew 44% from 1997 to 2007 (twice as fast as male-owned businesses)
• 88% of these women-owned firms are small businesses

Press Release

Senators Introduce Legislation to Bolster Women’s Contracting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in conjunction with National Women’s History Month, U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced the Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012, bipartisan legislation to address deficiencies in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) women-owned small business contracting program which Congress directed it to establish over 10 years ago.

“Simply put, women-owned small businesses have yet to receive their fair share of federal contracting dollars, and as the fastest growing segment of our economy, women-owned small businesses will play a critical role in helping our nation recover from the recent recession,” the Senators said. “This inequity was the impetus behind the women’s contracting program that Congress authorized on December 21, 2000, and over a decade later, the program was finally implemented by the SBA. While we applaud this Administration’s efforts to finally put in place a functioning program, the unfortunate fact is that women-owned small businesses will still face a disadvantage when compared to HUBZone, 8(a), and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Our legislation will help put women-owned firms on a level playing field with these other socio-economic groups to ensure their maximum participation in the federal contracting process.”

The Fairness in Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Act of 2012 will provide women entrepreneurs with the tools they need to compete fairly in the federal contracting arena by allowing for receipt of non-competitive contracts when circumstances permit. Moreover, the legislation would eliminate a restriction on the dollar amount of a contract that women-owned small businesses can compete for, putting them on a level playing field with the other federal small business socio-economic contracting programs. The federal government has consistently failed to meet its annual women’s contracting goal of five percent, and this legislation will assist in satisfying, if not exceeding that goal. This legislation has already received letters of support (attached) from the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and the U.S. Black Chamber, Inc.

The Senators are introducing this bill to coincide with National Women’s History Month, during which time the country recognizes the contributions, feats, and leadership of America’s women. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity. Additionally, a special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

The Heartland Café

Ramona Pekelo

The Heartland Café is “Serving Midwestern comfort food like mom used to make”. This is the motto for the restaurant Jay Wergin and Jeff Loren launched two years ago. Born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jay has always been a fan of Midwest comfort food—the types of food served at supper clubs, church picnics, and backyard barbeques. With Jay’s Midwest heritage as a motivator, he brought the idea of opening a restaurant to his longtime friend, Jeff Loren. Pairing Jay’s marketing skills and creativity with Jeff’s 20 years of food industry experience, The Heartland Café opened its doors to the public in April 2010.

Prior to opening The Heartland Café, Jay and Jeff had fallen upon hard times. Jay was recently laid off from a publishing job at a Travel and Tourism company. Jeff suffered a broken back and was forced to close his 7-year-old fireplace installation company. Jay shares words of wisdom, “Given the state of the economy when we opened the doors, it’s a testament to the power of reinvention. During hard times it’s best to look inside yourself and find a new passion to move forward with your life.”

While there are no plans to expand their restaurant business, Jay and Jeff plan to diversify. With their business formed under the West Seattle Sausage Company, the two entrepreneurs plan to launch their own line of sausage and beer mustard which will be offered at farmers markets around Seattle.

The Heartland Café, featuring affordable family dining, is located in the Admiral District of West Seattle where the Admiral Benbow Inn operated for 50 years. The Benbow Room remains a part of the Heartland Café because longtime West Seattle resident, Jay Wergin, knew the old Pirate Ship themed bar would be an instant hit. “There is no other bar of this kind in Seattle. The Benbow Room is a landmark institution.” With the goal of becoming a local music scene, the bar will offer live music every weekend. The Heartland Café and Benbow Room are on their way to making a name for itself in West Seattle. Jay and Jeff invite you to come and see for yourself!

4210 SW Admiral Way, Suite A.
Seattle, WA 98116

Hours of Operation:
Monday: 6:30am to 3pm
Tuesday - Thursday: 6:30am to 9pm
Friday - Saturday: 6:30am to 2am
Sunday: 6:30am to 9pm

Visit them at www.heartlandcafeseattle.com

2012 National Women’s History Month Theme:

Source: NWHP

Although women now outnumber men in American colleges nationwide, the reversal of the gender gap is a very recent phenomenon. The fight to learn was a valiant struggle waged by many tenacious women—across years and across cultures—in our country. After the American Revolution, the notion of education as a safeguard for democracy created opportunities for girls to gain a basic education—based largely on the premise that, as mothers, they would nurture not only the bodies but also the minds of (male) citizens and leaders. The concept that educating women meant educating mothers endured in America for many years, at all levels of education. Pioneers of secondary education for young women faced arguments from physicians and other “experts” who claimed either that females were incapable of intellectual development equal to men, or that they would be harmed by striving for it. Women’s supposed intellectual and moral weakness was also used to argue against coeducation, which would surely be an assault on purity and femininity. Emma Willard, in her 1819 Plan for Improving Female Education, noted with derision the focus of women’s “education” on fostering the display of youth and beauty, and asserted that women are “the companions, not the satellites of men”—“primary existences” whose education must prepare them to be full partners in life’s journey. While Harvard, the first college chartered in America, was founded in 1636, it would be almost two centuries before the founding of the first college to admit women—Oberlin, which was chartered in 1833. And even as “coeducation” grew, women’s courses of study were often different from men’s, and women’s role models were few, as most faculty members were male. Harvard itself opened its “Annex” (Radcliffe) for women in 1879 rather than admit women to the men’s college—and single-sex education remained the elite norm in the U.S. until the early 1970s. As coeducation took hold in the Ivy League, the number of women’s colleges decreased steadily; those that remain still answer the need of young women to find their voices, and today’s women’s colleges enroll a far more diverse cross-section of the country than did the original Seven Sisters. The equal opportunity to learn, taken for granted by most young women today, owes much to Title IX of the Education Codes of the Higher Education Act Amendments. This legislation, passed in 1972 and enacted in 1977, prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. It has become the primary tool for women's fuller participation in all aspects of education from scholarships, to facilities, to classes formerly closed to women. Indeed, it transformed the educational landscape of the United States within the span of a generation.

SugarPill: Full Apothecary in Capital Hill

Ashley Metcalf

Proprietor Karyn Schwartz crafts magic for her customers with the use of Apothecary, Culinary and Mercantile ingredients.

To the common eye, SugarPill may appear to be yet another retail shop offering souvenirs to bypassing tourists. But taking a closer look, SugarPill offers a unique and eclectic mercantile rare to Seattle, as well as free consultations.

Owner Karyn Schwartz started her company last February providing herbal supplies, natural remedies, and culinary spices. Her products appeal to a variety of people, and establishing a retail base to offer her services is something Karyn has sought for quite some time. The apothecary section features bulk herbs, the culinary area offers seasoning blends, salts and spices, and the mercantile category includes natural body and skin care products, paper goods and nutritional supplements. "What is very popular are my culinary options such as salts, honeys, preserves, chocolates, teas-all being from local vendors," explains Karyn.

With a varied background in social work, massage therapy and being a chef, Karyn is passionate about helping her community. Opening SugarPill has offered her a nice outlet to serve her family, friends and the public. "This has been such an amazing opportunity to reach a lot of people and be available to my neighborhood, as the best work I do is teaching people."

Karyn is thankful to give to back, since her business start-up was in a large part possible because of community support. Karyn had immense assistance from friends, clients, colleagues and her amazing partner that believed in her success. In 2010, Karyn sent a proposal to her community, in what she calls a CSA Investment- Community Supported Apothecary, based on the older model Community Supported Agriculture. Karyn sent a letter out to her community explaining her business model and services, and asking for support. Within a few weeks Karyn received over 100 responses with offers of capital and confidence. In a matter of weeks Karyn gained half of the capital she needed to open her retail shop, the other half was obtained through a loan by Community Capital Development with the assistance of the Washington Women’s Business Center.

In the future, Karyn wants to make her business more sustainable, and help more people throughout her community. She feels lucky she is in a position to help already, and hopes her business grows and reaches more people throughout the Seattle Area. Stop by SugarPill today to get a knowledgeable consultation, herbal remedies, and goodies along the way.

SugarPill 900 E. Pine St. Seattle, WA 98122 • T 206.322.7455