Fact Sheet VII
Generating Business and Economic Opportunities for Women
"We're working to bring people together to unite Americans rather than divide them. We're on the side of working families. We want every citizen to be able to reach his or her God-given potential. Helping working women is key to all this." President Clinton May 19, 1995Women-owned businesses contribute more than $1 trillion in sales to the U.S. economy annually.Supporting the Family-Friendly Workplace
Under President Clinton's leadership, the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau launched a nationwide initiative to improve the lives of working Americans by encouraging employers to improve working conditions for working women and families. Under the Honor Roll program, the bureau is encouraging commitments from employers to improve pay and benefits, create a family-friendly workplace and value women's work through training and advancement.Making Working Women Count
The Department of Labor's Women's Bureau surveyed over 250,000 working women to learn more about their workplace experiences. The bureau is working to address the concerns expressed by survey participants: better pay and benefits, balancing work and family, and workplace recognition.Increased Small Business Administration Lending to Women by 86 Percent
A significant number of women business owners must use credit cards and personal resources to maintain or finance their businesses. The Small Business Administration under President Clinton has increased the volume of loans to women by 86 percent from 1993 to 1994 alone.Increasing Federal Procurement Contracts for Women
Supported by President Clinton, in 1994 the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act for the first time explicitly opened up $200 billion in federal procurement contracts and subcontracts to women-owned businesses.Expanding Small Business Administration's Women's Demonstration Program
Under President Clinton, the Small Business Administration added 19 centers nationwide to its Women's Demonstration Program. The women's business sites offer financial management, marketing, procurement, technical and other assistance to women to launch a business or to run one more successfully. Each site is tailored to meet the needs of the community.Created a Forum to Address Women's Economic Issues
The President's Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise is comprised of senior officials from 10 federal agencies, ensuring that women's economic issues are addressed at the highest policy-making level.
Office of Women's Initiatives and Outreach. Phone: 202 456-7300; Fax: 202 456-7311
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