WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced five grant recipients under its new Women’s Business Center (WBC) Modernization Initiative, awarding a combined $5.3 million to expand statewide support networks for women entrepreneurs in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. The Initiative is designed to augment resources in states where existing WBC funding has not kept pace with the number of women entrepreneurs.
“Nearly four decades ago, President Ronald Reagan helped establish the Women’s Business Center Program to help women entrepreneurs start, grow, and compete,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “Today, the Trump Administration is building on that legacy by modernizing the program and expanding its reach in states where demand for WBC services has outpaced existing resources. Through coordinated statewide networks, these awards will bring counseling, training, and access to capital closer to the women starting businesses, creating jobs, and strengthening their communities.”
Building on the SBA’s nationwide network of 138 existing Women’s Business Centers, the Modernization Initiative funds private organizations that will create State Lead Centers supported by local Service Centers. This new model, which is funded by statutorily obligated funds, will bring counseling, training, and technical assistance closer to women entrepreneurs.
Each State Lead Center will serve as a statewide hub, working with local Service Centers to deliver assistance directly to entrepreneurs – reducing fragmentation, improving coordination and efficiency, and ensuring that women business owners can more easily access the SBA’s resources at every stage of business ownership.
Economic and Community Development Institute Inc.
Geographic Scope: West Virginia
Total Proposed Budget: $250,000
Description: ECDI of West Virginia will bring unique value to the state by serving some of the state’s rural and underserved areas. The region’s limited broadband access and dispersed population centers create barriers to entrepreneurship that are not as prevalent in more suburban or urban areas. The programming offered by ECDI is tailored to address unique geographic challenges in West Virginia. By meeting clients where they are, whether through in-person outreach in county seats, hybrid programming, or virtual services designed around limited connectivity, ECDI will ensure that geography and infrastructure gaps don’t determine who gets to start, sustain, or grow a business.
This Modernization Initiative operates as a stand‑alone project and does not change existing WBC funding. All 138 current WBCs remain in the program and continue receiving their fiscal year 2026 base awards under their existing cooperative agreements. In states selected to participate in the Initiative, Lead Center awards will overlay current funding. Questions about these grant opportunities should be directed to the Women’s Business Ownership Office at ow**@*ba.gov.
