The Women’s Business Center program has been an important part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) entrepreneurial development assistance efforts since its establishment in 1989, after the passage of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988. 

Currently, the Women’s Business Centers provide entrepreneurial assistance in training and counseling to over 150,000 men and women annually. Of this, approximately 46-52 % annually is socio economically disadvantaged, as defined by the SBA. 

Furthermore, results from a 2004 National Women’s Business Council research study shows a 13 to 1 return on investment on our federal dollars. Economic impact data collected and tracked annually for the WBC program include: jobs created, access to capital and new businesses formed. 

For more than 10 years the Salt Lake Chamber’s Women’s Business Center has been proud to serve over 4000 participants with counseling and more than 10,000 for training participants including our networking and mentoring programs. 

Our purpose: 
The mission of the Women’s Business Center is to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners, with a focus on women, the critical skills, knowledge, tools and support network to increase their success and positively impact the economic development in our communities. 

The vision of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Women’s Business Center is to be recognized as a principal in women’s entrepreneurship whose purpose is to accelerate the success of women business owners and women in business. It seeks to create economic opportunities for women through entrepreneurship and to help all women realize their greatest potential. 

About SBA OWBO:

The Women's Business Center is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) is established to help women become full partners in economic development through small business ownership. The Women's Business Ownership homepage address is www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness  SBA's cooperation does not constitute or imply its endorsement of any opinions, products and/or services.  Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.  All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

For more information or for one-on-one counseling contact:
Lavanya Mahate
Program Director, Women's Business Center
Salt Lake Chamber 
175 East 400 South, Suite 600
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 801.328.5066
E-Mail: lmahate@saltlakechamber.org