My colleagues and I are pleased to have worked closely this past year with the Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise.

The partnership which the National Women’s Business Council has enjoyed with our Administration colleagues on the Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise is the foundation for the greater involvement that we envision for women entrepreneurs in setting the economic agenda for the nation.

Our economy has been revitalized in good measure because of the participation and contributions of women business owners. The new Census data describe an inexorable wave of women entrepreneurs that are changing the face of the economy.

In starting and growing our businesses we are not only adding significantly to the GDP. Women have fashioned a business model that is flexible, streamlined, and “friendly.” This model is shaping the character of the new economy, as well as the changing workforce. Our challenges now include making financial institutions, policymakers, and others who hold the keys to opportunity, aware of the enormous contribution women-owned businesses make to the economy. We must also make women aware of the opportunities available through business ownership -and assist women in gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to grow their businesses successfully.

The report describes partnerships that have already been forged and point the way to future collaborations. The efforts of women business owners can be greatly leveraged by those in government who shape economic policy.
It is an honor to serve and work with the Interagency Committee on Women’s Business Enterprise. We look forward to working with the Administration and the Congress to transform the good ideas and progress reflected in this report into new opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

Faithfully,
Lillian Vernon
Chair, National Women’s Business Council Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, Lillian Vernon Corporation