Women start new businesses at twice the national average, yet, often lack access to capital and resources available to their male counterparts. In response to this need, BiGAUSTIN recently began operating the Women's Business Center (WBC), a userfriendly resource center for women who want to start or expand their business.

The WBC helps entrepreneurs reach their goals by providing services such as: business information for women entrepreneurs, assistance in growing their businesses and one-on-one business counseling.

Through the Women's Business Center, BiGAUSTIN is able to provide business assistance services to women, evaluate business needs, develop a network of mentors for women entrepreneurs and assist women entrepreneurs securing capital to reach their business goals.

"The Women's Business Center will be a fabulous resource for women entrepreneurs because female entrepreneurs have issues and problems that are different from those of male entrepreneurs," says Penny McConnel, BiGAUSTIN graduate and owner of Penny's Pastries. Ms. McConnel pointed out that the Women's Business Center will benefit from BiGAUSTIN's 10 years of experience serving entrepreneurs.

The Women's Business Center will be located at BiGAUSTIN's offices on East 11th Street and is open to all women interested in improving their business skills. The Women's Business Center at BiGAUSTIN joins a network of over 100 centers around the country. As part of BiGAUSTIN, the WBC follows the organization's mission of improving and expanding services to low-income, minority families and women wishing to pursue self-employment. For more information, please call (512) 928-8010 or email us at info@bigaustin.org.