Women’s Business Development Council Celebrates 15 Years

STAMFORD — In the past year the number of women-owned firms in the United States has grown by 200,000, which is just under 550 new women-owned firms per day. That increase in women-owned enterprises mirrors the growth of Connecticut’s Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), which is celebrating its 15th year of serving women owned businesses.

In 2011 WBDC assisted in the creation of nearly 120 new businesses and has helped more than 140 existing businesses. In an economic time where jobs can be scarce, current operations at WBDC have resulted in the creation of more than 240 new jobs in Connecticut.

The organization started out in a small office on Main Street in Stamford and in 1997 relocated to the Stamford Government Center. Today the Stamford office is located at 184 Bedford Street with other offices and training sites located throughout New Haven and Fairfield County.

As of 2011 there were 97,000 women owned firms in the state of Connecticut — a 35 percent increase since 1997. With the growth in women owned firms in the state and a continued difficult economy for women and men, WBDC provides a resource and services to support women owned businesses.

Connecticut’s small businesses are a key to the state’s well-being and continue to account for a significant amount of the state’s economic production and hiring.

For 15 years WBDC has recognized this significance and encouraged the growth in economic stature for women in business and small businesses throughout the state. To learn more, visit ctwbdc.org.