Portland Women's Business Center benefits from national SBA grants

A large modern two story brick and glass building with a sign that says CEI near the front door

Courtesy / Coastal Enterprises Inc. The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the launch of 20 new Women's Business Centers, including one in Portland to be administered by Coastal Enterprises Inc., which already runs one in Brunswick.

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By Staff

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced grant funding and the launch of 20 new Women’s Business Centers, including one in Portland, to serve rural, urban and underserved communities.

The launch is the largest single expansion of the centers in their 30-year history, and they are expected to be pivotal to the success of women-owned businesses, the SBA said in a news release. The WBCs will be hosted in rural and underserved markets, as well as widen the footprint and partnership with historically black colleges and universities, the release said.

The Portland Women's Business Center will be overseen by Coastal Enterprises Inc., which already oversees one in Brunswick. Elizabeth Rogers, CEI chief communications officer, said the organization will have more information on the Portland center in the near future.

The WBCs are a national network of 136 centers that offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance and mentoring to women entrepreneurs. They offer help on business startups, financial management, marketing and procurement.

The Women's Business Centers, particularly during the pandemic, have provided "aid to our nation’s innovative and determined entrepreneurs, allowing countless small business owners to pivot with confidence to stay afloat during the pandemic,” SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said. “Expanding the WBC program is part of this administration’s longstanding commitment to the success of female entrepreneurs and women-owned small businesses. Adding these new Women’s Business Centers to the already existing network of centers across America will boost timely resources to our nation’s female economic drivers, providing them with local training and counseling.”

Allen Gutierrez, associate administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, said, “Opening the doors to the new Women’s Business Centers is crucial to the vitality of women-owned small business owners. This network expansion will provide female entrepreneurs with the resources they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses. We look forward to the continued success of the WBC program as it contributes to the overall health of our economy and creates jobs in their local communities.”

In addition to opening the 20 new centers, SBA is also launching Ascent, a free digital e-learning platform geared to help female entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses. A live webinar is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday.