Sba and challengeher partner for women-owned small businesses

by C. DANIEL BAKER April 29, 2013 ------------------------- Every year the U.S. government awards nearly $100 billion in federal contracts to small businesses. These contracts allow small

business the chance to grow their revenues as well as create jobs. In return, the federal government gets to work with new and innovative brands and companies on a variety of projects. The

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is committed to providing access and removing barriers for small, minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses. One area in which they are

achieving this goal is by changing the process and the culture surrounding federal contracting. Marie Johns, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, recently

announced a new initiative aimed at engaging women-owned small businesses in the federal procurement process at the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Opportunity Forum Luncheon presented by

SBA, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), and American Express OPEN, here in Washington, D.C. The Campaign, called ChallengeHER is an new initiative that uses the resources of SBA, WIPP,

and American Express OPEN to promote the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program and bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain. At ChallengeHER

events across the country, they’ll help women business owners better understand and navigate the numerous procurement opportunities available from the federal government. At ChallengerHER

events we will also provide training on how to register in our System for Award Management, which serves as our government contracting portal for all small business owners that want to do

business with the federal government. For further information on the ChallengeHER Campaign and events please check the SBA website.