The Women’s Business Center Program (WBC), a Small Business Administration (SBA) initiative supporting women entrepreneurs, has received a record $27 million in federal funding for this fiscal year, the Association of WBC announced.
In a news release Thursday, Feb. 5, the AWBC said the funding is the result of bipartisan passage of a wide-ranging funding bill known as The Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148).
The amount equals the highest funding ever for the program and the first time the program was explicitly included in the legislative text, according to AWBC.
“This funding reaffirms a strong bipartisan commitment to the 15 million women entrepreneurs fueling economic growth in communities across America,” Corinne Goble, the chief executive officer of AWBC, said in a statement after the funding approval on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
“With Congress’s continued support, the Women’s Business Center network can keep doing what it does best, helping women launch businesses, increase revenue, access capital, and create jobs,” she added. “This investment is more than program funding; it is a clear vote of confidence in the economic power of American entrepreneurs.”
Since the first WBC opened in 1988, the network has supported millions of entrepreneurs nationwide by providing training, counseling, and access to critical resources needed to start, grow, and scale successful businesses. In the release, Ms. Goble also thanked leaders of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittees; Chairman Bill Hagerty, Ranking Member Jack Reed, Chairman Dave Joyce, and Ranking Member Steny Hoyer for championing the WBC program.
She also applauded the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, House Committee on Small Business and the more than 100 U.S. Congress members who championed funding WBCs.
“This is a clear and bipartisan win for women’s entrepreneurship,” she said.
WBC small business reach
According to data gathered in 2025, the WBCs generate $6 in small business revenue and $7.50 in private capital investment for every $1 of SBA support, all while sustaining 340,000 jobs that contribute $16 billion in salaries.
The FY 2026 funding ensures that Women’s Business Centers can continue strengthening local economies, expanding opportunity, and delivering measurable results for entrepreneurs in communities nationwide, the AWBC said.
The Association of Women’s Business Centers is the leading national voice and resource for igniting women’s entrepreneurship. AWBC advocates for and supports a network of more than 140 Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) across the United States. The program’s nearest centers to the bistate Quad Cities are located in Des Moines and Peoria. To find a WBC, visit AWBC’s website locator here.
The WBCs provide entrepreneurs with free coaching, networking opportunities, small business resources, training, and more to fulfill AWBC’s mission of ensuring that small business owners have the tools and support they need to succeed in business and contribute to the broader economy.
In partnership with Verizon, TikTok, and other corporate allies, AWBC expands access to digital readiness and upskilling programs, as well as national initiatives including HOPE2Women.org, VeteranStartup.org, and Biz2Grow.org
