SBDC empowers local businesswomen

The Northern Marianas College Small Business Development Center is opening for female entrepreneurs doors of opportunities through its Women in Business program, created to assist the sector make sound and practical decisions in running a businesses.

On Jan. 24, 2001, SBDC will host its first Women’s Breakfast Forum to jump-start what NMC business consultants target as the first step towards the formation of a “network” of women entrepreneurs in the Northern Marianas.

SBDC Business Consultant Larrisa L. Savares yesterday said the network of local businesswomen is being eyed to serve as an organized support group especially for individuals who are still trying to get their businesses off the ground.

The business center is offering this free service to women in the community who currently run businesses or those who aspire to take on small business ventures.

“We would rather help them get started than allow them to pursue something that would not turn out well,” said Ms. Savares.

According to the business consultant, NMC’s Women in Business program has been established to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs in the CNMI and assist them cope with all stages of business development whether it be startup or existing business ventures through combined resources from the federal and local governments, and private business and education sectors.

“The objective of the Women’s Business Center is to advance the empowerment of women throughout the CNMI by assisting women entrepreneurs in the achievement of their goals in both personal and professional development by providing the information, training and tools necessary to achieve economic independence provided by ownership of a business,” said Ms. Savares.

According to published business reports, studies reveal that in the United States, the number of women-owned businesses increased 89 percent over the last decade to an estimated 8.5 million.

Based on a survey of U.S. women in businesses, women-owned businesses generated $3.1 trillion in revenue, an increase of 209 percent between 1987 and 1997.

Ms. Savares, a new business consultant at SBDC, disclosed that part of her plan is to produce accurate statistics that would track the number of local businesses proprieted and run by women.

Meanwhile, SBDC also features short-term training or workshops on specialized fields such as accounting/bookkeeping, advertising/marketing plans, business plan preparation, computer training, contract and proposal development, inventory management, loan packaging assistance, market research, personnel management, project and materials sourcing, and staffing and hiring procedures.

Other programs available under SBDC WBC include consulting services on a variety of business topics, workshops and seminars that cover various areas of interest for business women, business incubator or low cost office space for startup entrepreneurs, and women’s forum.

The first Women’s Business Center Breakfast Forum will be held at the SBDC Building T from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wed. Jan. 24. It will be conducted on a monthly basis with featured guest speakers. Forum organizers will accommodate the first 20 registrants. Interested parties are advised to notify SBDC at 235-1551 before Friday, Jan. 19.