AWBC Welcomes $5.3 Million in New SBA Funding to Expand Women’s Business Center Network

WASHINGTON, D.C. — October 7, 2026 — The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) welcomes the U.S. Small Business Administration’s announcement of $5.3 million in grants to expand statewide support for women entrepreneurs through the Women’s Business Center network.

The funding, awarded through the SBA’s new Women’s Business Center Modernization Initiative, will support statewide networks in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. The initiative is designed to expand access to counseling, training, technical assistance, and other small business resources in communities where existing WBC funding has not kept pace with the growing number of women entrepreneurs.

“Women-owned businesses are one of the most powerful engines of job creation in America,” said Corinne Goble, CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers. “Wells Fargo’s latest research shows women own 15.7 million businesses that employ 12.6 million people and generate $2.8 trillion in revenue, and they’re growing jobs at more than three times the rate of men-owned firms. When we invest in the Women’s Business Centers that help these entrepreneurs grow, we’re investing in America’s economic growth. These new statewide networks will help more women-led businesses reach their full potential.”

The five named organizations receiving awards are:

• weVENTURE Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech — Florida
• Women’s Business Enterprise Center East — Pennsylvania
• Proof Programs — Tennessee
• Better Business Bureau Education Foundation — Texas
• Economic and Community Development Institute Inc. (ECDI) — West Virginia

Together, these new statewide networks will build on the SBA’s existing network of 138 Women’s Business Centers across the country, helping bring business counseling, training, technical assistance, and access-to-capital resources closer to women entrepreneurs in their communities.

The investment comes at a time when demand for small business support continues to grow. For every taxpayer dollar invested in Women’s Business Centers, new businesses generate $7 in revenue, demonstrating the strong economic impact of investing in women entrepreneurs and the organizations that support them.

AWBC looks forward to seeing the impact of these new investments and to continued opportunities to expand access to Women’s Business Centers and the resources they provide to entrepreneurs across the country.

Read the full announcement from the U.S. Small Business Administration for additional details on the Modernization Initiative and each award recipient.
Read the full SBA announcement

About AWBC

The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) is the national nonprofit organization representing more than 140 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) across the United States and its territories. AWBC advances and protects the Women’s Business Center program at the federal level, advocates for policies that strengthen women’s entrepreneurship, and provides capacity building and national visibility for its members. AWBC also leads national initiatives and strategic partnerships that connect entrepreneurs directly to capital opportunities and growth resources. Together, AWBC and its members support hundreds of thousands of business owners each year with counseling, training, capital access support, and technical assistance to start and scale businesses.