Archive for Statistics & Facts
Post by Veronica Eyenga, contributing Women On Business writer
According to WomenEntrepreneur.com and The Center for Women’s Business Research, the number of woman-owned businesses is on the rise. The biggest noticeable difference? Not all woman-owned startups are service industry based, a trend that dominated the last decade.
That’s right. With every new woman-owned company that pops up (in 2008, there were more than 10 million woman-owed companies), more and more are entering into male-dominated industries such as the technology and manufacturing industries.
In fact, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research, 32% of women business owners believe that being a woman in a male-dominated industry is beneficial.
Specific statistics about women in these industries is hard to come by. However, the women in them insist that their numbers are growing; they just aren’t receiving the attention from the press.
This growing trend is extremely promising. As we move into the second decade of the 21st century, it’s time for us to encourage our fellow woman entrepreneurs not be afraid of entering male-dominated industries.
Are you a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry? Share your advice in the comments.
Uncle Sam wants small business entrepreneurs to lead the nation to economic recovery–and has billions of dollars to make it happen. Small business owners are in line to receive low-interest loans and government contracts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To secure your little corner of the recovery, you’ll need to be at the right place with the right business plan.
A Roadmap For Recovery
Stimulus dollars are headed toward businesses that support these Recovery Act goals:
- Healthcare: Modernize the healthcare system with electronic medical records systems.
- Energy: Promote solar power, renewable energy, smart grids and develop domestic energy sources
- Green Building: Build energy-efficient homes and public buildings
- Science and Technology: Promote scientific research and innovation
- Transportation: Upgrade the transportation infrastructure with new roads, bridges, and mass transit systems
- Education: Improve public schools and job training
The Recovery Act envisions a smarter, more efficient, more productive future. If your small business plan can move the nation forward, you’re a step closer to winning Uncle Sam’s financing and support.
Ten Best Cities to Stage an Economic Revival
Location is the other piece of the stimulus puzzle. To ensure that funding reflects local priorities, the White House is leaving ground-level decisions to state and local authorities. Winning the funding game is a matter of finding the right combination of business plan and place.
The following cities are leading the economic revival in their recovery sectors:
Washington, D.C
With the highest per capita spending across all industries, Washington, D.C. offers the broadest scope of recovery-funded business opportunities. For funding in education, healthcare, construction, urban development, criminal justice, and the arts, look inside the beltway.
Boston, MA
Innovative entrepreneurs will find fertile ground for their ideas in Boston. Ranking third in Popular Science’s list of ‘America’s Greenest Cities,’ Boston is putting its recovery money toward clean-energy initiatives. Partner with local R&D brainpower to start your own clean-energy venture. Equipment leasing and a government grant can help you secure the lab facilities and scientific talent to get the ball rolling.
Detroit, MI
With the auto industry and heavy manufacturing in decline, Detroit is using its stimulus dollars to combat soaring unemployment. Help the city’s manufacturing workforce transition to the information economy with a placement service. Your federal small business loan can fund a call center and answering service, linking local talent to employers nationwide.
Anchorage, AK
Alaska’s military funding amounts to $313 per person, twice that of the next highest recipient, Hawaii; by contrast, most states spend $20 or less per person on military contracts. Take advantage of the military spending with a civil construction company. Equipment leasing can help you gear up for construction projects on Anchorage’s two active military bases.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, SC is among the nation’s funding leaders for green building ventures. ”Greening” federal buildings is a focus of the recovery effort in hurricane-prone Charleston. A green business specializing in the retrofit of federal buildings has great potential to win Uncle Sam’s support.
Providence, RI
Providence’s major hospitals make the city a hospitable environment for healthcare stimulus funding. Capture those dollars with an electronic medical records business. E-commerce solutions offer a low-cost storefront from which to launch your electronic medical records venture.
New York, NY
With the financial sector reeling, New York is counting on technological innovation to save the day. Specifically, the state is pinning its hopes on small business, with a portion of federal R&D funds “set aside for small business to develop and commercialize innovative technology.” You don’t need to be a scientist to benefit from science money. A content writing service, for example, plays a valuable support role in product development. To get started, market your services online with a SEO friendly Website design.
Cheyenne, WY
Wyoming ranks number one in per-capita stimulus funding for the arts. Set up your own art studio in Wyoming’s art capital, Cheyenne. Then expand your following with a world-class Web design. Internet Marketig tools such as pay-per-click (PPC), social media marekting can help you represent artists from Cheyenne to China.
Jersey City, NJ
New Jersey is putting its money on the state’s public infrastructure, leading the nation in per-capita funding for transportation. Win a highway repaving contract, rent equipment through a leasing program, and play your part in rebuilding the country–one mile at a time.
Jackson, MS
If your specialty is education, head to Jackson, MS. Mississippi is throwing a lifeline to its K-12 education system. Tap into funds earmarked for improving educational standards by setting up a standardized testing service for Jackson’s public schools.
The White House is looking for a few good entrepreneurs to lead the nation out of economic slump. Between expanded Small Business loan programs and Recovery Act contracts, Uncle Sam is there to help your business succeed.
Post by Dr. Marsha Firestone, contributing Women On Business writer
In March, I wrote about celebrating Women’s History Month. The celebration has grown from International Women’s Day in the early 1900’s, to Women’s History Week in 1980, to the entire month of March when Congress voted in 1987. Since 1992, every U.S. president has issued a proclamation declaring March to be Women’s History Month. In my original post, I had discussed the advancements women have made in the workforce, but I would also like to share some facts and figures about the advancements women have made in other areas. Read More→
One of the first rules for survival in the Wild West also applies to business- resourcefulness, or making the best use of what you’ve got- is one of the best ways to make sure you survive tough times. With loan default rates higher than they’ve been in quite a while, traditional financing is becoming harder to find, especially for new or smaller businesses. If a loan is not an option, what can you do?
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Recent polls this week indicate that Americans look with empathy on small business owners that are forced to close their doors due to impacts of this economy. While there seems to be no shame in the cry for mercy, there is a significant feather for the cap of those who have uncovered the secrets for survival. I observed a sales training specialist this week exclaiming that the answer to our dipping sales efforts is to essentially attempt to break the 80/20 principal by focusing only on those 20% tasks that make 80% of the profits. If Pareto’s Law is truly a law of nature, is that breaking possible?
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Post by Dr. Marsha Firestone, contributing Women On Business writer
March is Women’s History month, a chance for us to look back on all the advancements women have made. Celebrating women’s history began in 1978, as “Women’s History Week.” There was a largely positive response, and as word spread, more and more people started recognizing this week, even in school curriculums. It wasn’t until 1987 that the National Women’s History Project petitioned to Congress in order to have a whole month dedicated to Women’s History.
March has officially become Women’s History Month gaining acknowledgment and appreciation throughout the nation. Specifically, the National Women’s History Project is dedicated to promoting women’s history awareness. Their 2009 theme for March is “Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet,” honoring women who have taken the lead in the green movement. For more information on The National Women’s History Project, click here.
Women have made huge advancements specifically in the business world. Revenue for women-owned businesses in 2002 was $939 billion, up 15% from 1997. That number has grown even more to $1.9 trillion being generated by the 10.1 million women-owned firms today.
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