“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else”

– Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx

October is National Women’s Small Business Month

October is Women's Small Business Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women entrepreneurs and their growing contributions to the economy. Over the past decade, women’s entrepreneurship has surged, with women now owning approximately 43.2% of all small businesses in the U.S.—nearly 13 million businesses. These businesses employ over 10.1 million workers, making a significant impact on both local communities and the broader economy.

Despite these advancements, women business owners continue to face unique challenges. Discrimination and access to capital remain significant barriers, with 25% of women having their loan applications denied, compared to just 19% of men.

As we honor these women during Women's Small Business Month, let's acknowledge their resilience and determination while advocating for greater equity in entrepreneurship.

Association of Women’s Business Center
Annual Leadership Conference

During the month of September, the ACE Women’s Business Center (WBC) Team attended the annual 2024 Leadership Conference. Over 350 WBC members of the Association of Women’s Business Center including speakers, session leaders, and sponsors convened for three days of training, networking, and advocacy in Kansas City, Missouri. This year's theme, “Ignite the Power,” focused on empowering women entrepreneurs and amplifying their impact through enhanced resources, strategic partnerships, and policy advocacy. The conference provided invaluable insights, tools, and connections, which will help us continue to support women business owners as they grow and scale their businesses.

2024 ACE Annual Awards

On September 19th, we celebrated ACE's Annual Awards Fundraiser, and what an outstanding event it was, surrounded by our amazing clients, funders, and community partners! Congratulations to all the well-deserved winners for their hard work and achievements as business owners. We also had the honor of celebrating our Founder and CEO, Grace C. Fricks, whose vision of a more inclusive world has opened doors for countless diverse entrepreneurs. A special congratulations to Martina Edwards, who will be stepping in as ACE’s new President in January 2025.

The Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey is now open. Owners and key financial decisionmakers of for-profit businesses, share your recent experiences. In this survey you will share whether and how you use debt, what financial conditions you face, and more. Answers to these questions contribute to data that directly inform the Fed, federal government agencies, service providers, policymakers, and others—a public good ultimately benefiting your business and others like yours. The survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch. All responses are confidential.

Take the 12-minute survey now!

Client Spotlight: Anitra Deen

This month of October we are honored to spotlight Ms. Anitra Deen, Founder & CEO of Anitra Deen Consulting a firm that equips women business entrepreneurs and small business owners with the strategies, structure, and tools to operationalize their visions and build businesses of longevity. “Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to coach incredible women entrepreneurs at ACE's Annual Speed Coaching Event. ACE WBC helps close the educational gap, equipping women business owners with the knowledge and confidence to make efficient and effective decisions for success,” says Anitra Deen. We wish you continued success, Anitra and congratulations on this recognition!

Navigating Contracting Opportunities
with the State of Georgia

This in-person training session is designed to equip you with information on the procurement process, vendor registration, bidding, contracts, and the resources and systems available to successfully navigate the state's procurement process.

October 18, 2024 @ 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | IN-PERSON

Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs
504 Fair Street, SW. Atlanta, GA 30313

Pitch Perfect: Mastering your Business Pitch

A dynamic event designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners craft and deliver a compelling pitch that captures attention and conveys the essence of what you do.

October 22, 2024 @ 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. | VIRTUAL

Small Business Access to Capital

Looking for funds for your business? Join us and learn about ACE’s loan products and requirements, business plan tool, who is funding start-ups and all the resources ACE and the Women's Business Center offer to support small businesses.

October 30, 2024 @ 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | VIRTUAL

If you couldn’t attend our training sessions, you can access them at your convenience through our website. Seeking guidance on a particular topic? Explore them right HERE.

We extend our gratitude to all the volunteers who shared their expertise in September!

Patrice Dozier with the SBA Georgia District Office

Jeanette Parker with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office  

Keep yourself informed about the most recent updates regarding entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the economy...

Collaboration: Women Stronger Together!: Research suggests that as women, we can be highly effective collaborators, and that our presence in groups can enhance collaboration. This is true for several reasons. Read More

Credit Score Myths Debunked: What Business Owners Need to Know for Financial Growth: Building a successful business requires more than just a good product or service. Financial health is critical, and understanding how your creditworthiness impacts your company can make all the difference. Read More

Student Entrepreneur’s Guide to Business Expenses, Tax Deductibles & Cost Management: Managing finances is a crucial skill for students, particularly those venturing into entrepreneurship or freelance work while in college. Understanding how to track business expenses, take advantage of tax deductibles, and effectively manage costs can make a significant difference in long-term financial success. Read More

We value building ongoing relationships with our clients. As a result, we kindly request that new clients participate in at least one of our webinars or training sessions prior to booking a complimentary one-on-one coaching session. This coaching session, lasting 45 minutes, can be scheduled to discuss a specific topic in-depth, at the client's convenience. To begin the process, Create a Client Profile HERE and have access to all the services and resources the WBC provides. Register only once, it’s easy and free!

Keep yourself informed about WBC's resources, classes, and offerings. Stay connected with us on social media to receive real-time updates on announcements and events.

Want to be kept in the loop? If you haven’t already, subscribe to our newsletter HERE. Is there a specific need or question we haven't addressed? Feel free to inform us HERE.

Women's Business Summit: Athens

This year’s theme, “bridging generations,” focuses on the invaluable exchange of knowledge between seasoned leaders and emerging entrepreneurs. Attendees will enjoy a dynamic mix of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops aimed at addressing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women in business today. Engage with industry pioneers and rising stars as they explore strategies for growth, leadership, and overcoming obstacles. Learn more and register HERE.

CareerShift - Small Business Bootcamp

This is a virtual program of 6 sessions with a lot of valuable information to assist small business owners and start-ups to thrive. Webinars will be held on Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm starting on October 9, 2024, to November 12, 2024. For more information about the sessions and to register, click HERE.

* All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis | Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance | Contact acewbc@aceloans.org for accommodations