Forums held in five cities will determine business growth for women of color

The final of a five-city national research study to identify obstacles to business growth faced by women business owners of color was held in Chicago on Jan. 23. The day-long research forum, was conducted by the Center for Women’s Business Research and Babson College.The objective was to identify the barriers and challenges that women of color face in the pursuit of business growth and to create individual, community, and ultimately, national action plans to overcome those barriers. Bank of America was the city sponsor for the Chicagoresearch forum and the Women’s Business Development Center Chicago was the city co-presenter.
The research will culminate at the CFWBR 2008 National Symposium in Washington D.C. on May 6-7 where public- and private-sector policy recommendationsgenerated by the research will be announced. Women entrepreneurs who are African American,Asian, Latina and other ethnicities, who wish to grow their businesses to a higher level and help create local and national agendas that support businesses owned by women of color,must apply in advance to participate. Selection criteria include owning a business that is at least 50 percent women owned with annual revenues between $250,000 and $5 million.Women of- color entrepreneurs who meet the research criteria and wish to participate should contact the Center for Women’s Business Research at www.womens businessresearch.org or at (202) 638-3060 ext. 725.