|
 ounded
in 1986, the Women's Business Development Council
(WBDC) provides women with entrepreneurial training,
individualized consulting, financial counseling
and assistance, business and strategic plan development,
and Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) certification
and procurement opportunities. It has a staff of
23 professionals and a network of volunteers.
"Philosophically,
we are committed to economic empowerment of women
through business ownership, the economic independence
of women and their families, and the growth and
increased economic impact of women-owned businesses,"
explains Hedy M. Ratner, WBDC co-founder and co-president.
"We accomplish this through the programs and services
of the WBDC, and with collaboration and partnerships
with organizations that can assist us in meeting
the needs of women."
Linking
Buyers and Suppliers
The
WBDC (the largest, oldest, and most comprehensive
women's business assistance center in the United
States, offers the Chicago BusinessLINC. Funded
by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA),
the program that matches women and minority business
owners with buyers and purchasing agents from government
and corporations.
Fighting
for Universal Certification
The WBDC is also proud of its
role in urging Illinois Governor George H. Ryan
to establish a universal certification process to
help minorities, women and persons with disabilities
to fully participate in state and local government
and private sector purchasing and procurement. Universal
certification addresses the problem of excessive
and burdensome multiple applications.
Answering
the Need for Child Care
Three years ago, along with other
dedicated partners, the WBDC established the Child
Care Business Initiative (CCBI); more recently,
it established the CCBI Microloan program.
"The
impetus," Ratner says, "is that more than 130,000
Chicago children younger than five are in need of
licensed child care. Our new initiative helps women
- particularly low-income women -
launch and expand child care businesses. Only 18
percent of families with children eligible for child
care subsidies can find an accessible, affordable,
quality child care."
The
WBDC, in partnership with the Day Care Action Council
of Illinois, offers workshops that help women create
a marketing and business plan, understand tax issues
and bookkeeping, find financing options, and create
a parent's handbook.
Funding
for the CCBI and its Microloan program is provided
by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community
Affairs, BP America, Bank of America, Citibank,
Chicago Community Trust, Dominick's Finer Foods,
LaSalle Bank, McDonald's, Peoples Energy, the SBA,
and the City of Chicago Empowerment Zone.
JUDIE
FRAMAN is senior editor of Enterprising Women
magazine.
|
