NEW ORLEANS (MAY 4, 2017) -The Urban League of Louisiana’s Women’s Business Resource Center (WBRC) was recognized for its excellence and service to the community during the Louisiana Small Business Awards Ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on May 3, 2017.  The center was named the “Women in Business Champion of the Year” for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Louisiana District Office. The Urban League’s Women’s Business Resource Center (WBRC) provides training, assistance and other diverse resources to existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2001, the WBRC has assisted over 15,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs.

Over the last year, the WBRC hosted its Start-Up Series that introduced clients to the fundamentals of starting a small business. The center is also known for its Women in Business Challenge, a business accelerator program and seed capital competition for early stage businesses owned by female entrepreneurs. The center just held its fifth competition in March and awarded $10,000.

Additional notable achievements of the WBRC for the year 2016 include:

  • More than 670 business owners, contractors and individuals attending training events.
  • WBRC staff assisted over 600 clients
  • WBRC staff helped clients start 32 new businesses
  • WBRC helped clients create 184 news jobs.
  • WBRC helped businesses in decline save 105 jobs through direct assistance.

The Women in Business Champion is selected annually to honor individuals and organizations who have fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership.  National Small Business Week is currently underway through May 6 with the theme “Dream Big, Start Small”.

“National Small Business Week is a great opportunity to honor small business owners and employees whose spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and determination help our economy prosper,” said Michael Ricks, SBA Louisiana District Director.

The SBA’s Louisiana district covers 64 parishes in the state. It is estimated that well over 400,000 small businesses are located throughout the state of Louisiana.

The mission of the Women’s Business Resource Center (WBRC) is to facilitate small business development, provide business consulting, educational training and other resources to assist aspiring, early stage businesses and those positioned for growth.