Declaration and Commitment to 200k+ Women Business Owners in Los Angeles
The Californer/10233832

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- WBOs generate nearly $2 Trillion per year. Around the country they continue to trend upward, break barriers, innovate and inspire! NAWBOLA actively advocates for and creates opportunities for WBOs here in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Since 1975, the founders of NAWBO identified and created a space for women business owners to exist and thrive. Together with committed partners, NAWBO stays on the front lines advocating locally, state-wide, and nationally for the women business owners they represent.

"NAWBO represents nearly 13 million women business owners. The economic and social strength of this stakeholder group is unquestionable. Our chapter is energized and ready to work with lawmakers to deliver a better America today while planning for a better tomorrow," said Debra Hunter, NAWBO LA Board Member.

[🎥 WATCH EVENT OPENING REMARKS - given by Renee Young, NAWBOLA President]

On March 15 at City Club LA, NAWBO Los Angeles held THE FUTURE IS FEMALE: A Conversation with Women in Business and Our Elected Leaders.  As the 118th Congress begins, NAWBO Los Angeles impresses on lawmakers to understand the challenges for women business owners and outlines what Congress can do to address these obstacles.

Here's the 2023 NAWBO Los Angeles Advocacy Focus:

• Addressing the Needs of the "Micro-business" NAWBO's most recent survey shows that approximately 97% of women-owned businesses are micro-businesses. It is estimated that micro-businesses provide the lion's share of the family income, with 63% of micro-businesses businesses providing 50-100%. Unfortunately, the current definition of a micro-business is overly broad (or not distinguished from significantly larger small businesses). This lack of distinction creates barriers to participation in procurement, access to capital, and workforce issues.
  
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  California Definition of a micro-business:  A micro business - a small business will automatically be designated as a micro-business, if gross annual receipts are less than $5 million dollars; or the small business is a manufacturer with 25 or fewer employees.  NAWBO LA believes this focus is far too narrow.
  
  
• High-Speed Internet The Digital Divide impacts society and the economy at all levels. Access is key to creating equity and impacts in: Education, Workforce Development, Economic Development, Healthcare, and Public Safety. Supporting the Broadband initiatives will increase the population of workers available to small businesses – especially workers from typically underserved communities and remote geographies.
  
  
• Accessing Capital through Increased Financial Literacy Education and Digital Tools Small business owners are suffering from a lack of access to capital. It is difficult for small business owners to access the capital needed to expand their participation in the economy (acquire equipment, space, hire staff, etc). Our new opinion polling shows an overwhelming 90% of small business owners nationwide agree the availability of capital for small businesses is a problem. (https://smallbusinessmajority.org/our-research/access-capital)
  
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• Paid Family Leave (PFL) There is a need for more timely dissemination of information about PFL implementation support for small businesses. NAWBO LA recognizes this issue and is committed to improving access to this important information

Learn more about the NAWBO LA Advocacy Agenda: advocacy@NAWBOLA.org

"UNITE-LA is a proud member of NAWBO-LA and applauds the organization for its strong advocacy priorities this year to uplift issues that directly impact women entrepreneurs and women in the workforce. We look forward to working closely with them on their efforts to uplift critical issues like digital equity, increased Paid Family Leave resources, and equitable support of women small business owners and women re-entering the workforce." – Jasmin Sakai-Gonzalez, Sr Dir Regional Business Engagement

About NAWBOLA.org
NAWBO-LA is a leader in propelling women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power by: strengthening the wealth-creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community; creating innovative and effective changes in the business culture; building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers.