Women-owned businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of new business in our economy, and to help support their growth, the Small Business Administration (SBA), along with American Express OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), are launching ChallengeHER – a new national initiative to help boost government contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses and empower the success of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program.

To help women business owners successfully complete in the government contracting marketplace, ChallengeHER will offer free events and workshops across the country. Starting on May 23, there are 9 events planned for 2013, in:

  • Phoenix, AZ;
  • Seattle, WA;
  • New Orleans, LA;
  • Denver, CO;
  • Atlanta, GA;
  • San Francisco, CA; and
  • New York, NY.

The events will include “matchmaker” sessions connecting women-owned small businesses with decision-makers and contract opportunities, as well as training women small business owners on how to register in the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM) database.

ChallengeHER will also provide:
·         Online resources and courses that address various government contracting topics;
·         Mentoring opportunities with experienced women contractors; and
·         Access to government buyers and prime contractors.

The first ChallengeHER event takes place at the Department of Energy in Washington, DC, on Thursday, May 23. Find out more here and register to attend here.

Learn more about ChallengeHER at the SBA website.