Annual Reports
AWBC History Timeline
1988
Women’s Business Ownership Act (HR5050)
Women’s Business Ownership Act (HR5050) enacted which established NWBC and the first Women’s Business Center, led by Kathy Keeley in Minnesota. The Women’s Business Ownership Act made it possible (for the first time in US history) for women to obtain a business loan without requiring a co-signer who was a husband, father or grandfather.
1989
12 more Women’s Business Centers launch
12 more Women’s Business Centers launch, from the Midwest to the DC area to the West Coast, the Southwest and the Rocky Mountain West, established women’s business development organizations were transforming into Women’s Business Centers.
1997
12 WBC directors assembled in Oklahoma City
12 WBC directors assembled in the summer of 1997 in Oklahoma City to discuss the needs of WBCs and explore the possibility of founding a national association. Among those in attendance were Ellen Golden (Maine), Agnes Noonan (New Mexico), Andrea Silbert (Massachusetts), Lori Smith (Oklahoma), Wendy Baumann (WI). This group formalized the plan for an Association of Women’s Business Centers.
1998
AWBC was founded
AWBC was founded
1999
Women’s Business Centers Sustainability Act
Women’s Business Centers Sustainability Act (a four year grant competitive pilot program at SBA)
2003
Women’s Business Centers receive permanent funding
Women’s Business Centers receive permanent funding through three-year
renewable grants.
2015
Inaugural AWBC Leadership Conference
Women’s Business Border Center hosts inaugural AWBC Leadership Conference in El Paso, Texas.
2017
Contract with Prism Group
AWBC signs first contract with Prism Group.
2019
AWBC hires first CEO
AWBC hires CEO, Corinne Goble.
2020
CARES Act provides record funding for WBCs
CARES Act provides record funding for WBCs and a $25 million RPTP grant project.
2022
Strategic Alliance Memorandum with SBA
SBA Administrator Guzman Signs Strategic Alliance Memorandum with AWBC.
2022
HOPE2Women launches
HOPE2Women launches as a national campaign to connect more women to Women's Business Centers across the country.
2024
Record number of WBCs
Record number of WBCs at 152 and funding to the WBCs through AWBC has topped $1 million.