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Do You Know Where Your Local Women's Business Center Is? -- Nearly Every City Has One

Women's Business Center

Women-owned businesses are growing like crazy. They have grown faster than the rate of small businesses, according to the annual American Express OPEN report. Between 1997 and 2014, the report states, the number of businesses in the United States increased by 47 percent but the number of women-owned firms increased by 68 percent -- 1-1/2 times the national average. Women's Business Centers are spreading to help continue their support and growth for women-owned companies.

What Women's Business Centers provide

The growth of Women's Business Centers (WBCs) continues to grow. The services they offer include training and counseling in a wide variety of areas that help women learn the skills they need to become successful entrepreneurs. There are currently about 100 of these centers located throughout the U.S. and women everywhere can locate a center nearest them to see what programs they offer.

6 new centers opening in 2015

The Obama administration has just approved six new centers. The first one will open in 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. The locations of the other five have not yet been determined.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lists all the centers by state on their web site, making it much easier for women to locate and contact their nearest WBC. Women who are economically or socially disadvantaged are particularly encouraged to take advantage of the help that WBCs provide.

To find the nearest WBC center, visit www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/wbc