The Women’s Business Center
is your First Step to Success.
Our Mission
The mission of the Women’s Business Center (WBC) is to promote the growth of women-owned businesses by providing business training and technical assistance, helping with access to credit and capital, and identifying federal contract and trade opportunities.
The WBC serves the Rio Grande Valley, an area that includes the counties of Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy. These are the four, southern most counties in the State of Texas, covering a 4,240 sq. mile area, with a combined population of 1,170,776. As evidenced, since its inception in 2004, the WBC has assisted a total of 98 clients in either starting or expanding their businesses, and trained an additional 2,921 clients.
Dedicated to Advancing Disadvantaged Women
The WBC is committed to advancing the success of all women. Among the thousands of women living and working in the Rio Grande Valley, there is a large number of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged. These are women whose families live in housing projects, colonias (shanty towns), and other low-income housing. Many are single heads of household and struggle to make ends meet. According to 2007 U.S. Census figures, there are approximately 64,176 female households with no husband present who live below poverty levels in the Rio Grande Valley. In addition, there are approximately 63,165 women in the area that are over 25 years of age and who do not have a minimum of an associate’s degree. Additional statistics by the Texas Health & Human Services Commission indicate that as of December 2008, approximately 72,110 women over the age of 18 years were receiving Medicaid, 123,572 were receiving food stamps, and 11,815 were on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Despite these figures, many of these women have marketable skills. Some of these talented and determined women beat the odds and succeed in establishing business enterprises. Once started, their businesses face enormous financial, managerial and marketing challenges. Because of their socioeconomic status and, in many cases, language, educational and cultural barriers, these women can most benefit from the services of the WBC.
How is WBC Funded?
Funded partially by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the corporate sector and the community at large.
El Centro Empresarial Para Mujeres
¡Su Primer Paso Hacia El Exito!
La Misión del Centro es proveer asesoría empresarial en general y entrenamiento a propietarios de negocios pequeños en el Valle del Rio Grande, con especial énfasis a mujeres empresarias y proveer oportunidades que tengan un impacto en la comunidad.
Dedicated to Advancing Disadvantaged Women
El WBC esta comprometido con el avance y el éxito de todas las mujeres. Dentro de el Valle del Rio Grande hay un gran numero de mujeres que viven y trabajan bajo condiciones en desventaja socialmente y económicamente. Estas mujeres y sus familias viven en colonias o proyectos de vivienda y otras viviendas de bajos recursos. Muchas de estas mujeres soportan su hogar y batallan para completar lo necesario. De acuerdo a cifras desplegadas en el Censo de 2007 en Estados Unidos, existen aproximadamente 64,176 hogares donde la mujer es la que soporta los gastos y no tiene esposo; viviendo en niveles abajo de la linea de pobreza en el Valle del Rio Grande. ademas, hay aproximadamente 63,165 mujeres en el área que son mayores de 25 años de edad y quienes no tienen si quiera un titulo de educación a nivel técnico. Estadísticas adicionales dadas por la Comisión de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas indican que en Diciembre del 2008, aproximadamente 72,110 mujeres mayores de 18 años reciben Ayuda Medica Gubernamental (Medicaid), 123,572 reciben estampillas para comida (Food Stamps), y 11,815 estaban bajo el programa de Asistencia temporal para las familias necesitadas (TANF).
aun al ver estas cifras, muchas de estas mujeres tienen habilidades para trabajar. Algunas de estas talentosas y determinantes mujeres sobresalen y tienen éxito estableciendo su negocio. Una vez empezando, su negocio normalmente confronta enormes desafíos financieros, administrativos y de mercadotecnia. Dada su estatus socioeconómica, existen barreras de lenguaje, educación, y culturales; por esto los servicios ofrecidos en el WBC son de beneficio para estas mujeres.
Como se fundó el Centro Empresarial Para Mujeres?
Fundado parcialmente por el U.S. Small Business Administration, el sector empresarial y la comunidad.
