Zawistowski Participates in Women-Owned Business Day

HARTFORD — State Rep. Tami Zawistowski was a participant at the recent “Women-Owned Business Day at the State Capitol,” an event sponsored by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women & the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC).

Topics discussed at the forum included access to business capital, job creation and growth among women owned businesses, and key policy issues facing small businesses in Connecticut.

Zawistowski, who owns and runs a rare books business, said the event raised awareness about the challenges business owners must overcome, such as access to funding.

“Women play an important role in Connecticut’s business landscape, a fact highlighted during this inspirational event,” said Zawistowski, who represents Suffield, East Granby and Windsor. “And it’s critical to the growth of our economy that they take an even bigger role—our state needs more female entrepreneurs to start businesses, to create jobs.”

The event’s keynote speaker was Erin Andrew, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership. She oversees efforts to promote the growth of women-owned businesses through advocacy and programs that provide business training and counseling, access to credit and capital, and multiple business and networking opportunities.

The WBDC is host to two U.S. Small Business Administration organizations (Office of Women’s Business Ownership and Women’s Business Centers) that educate and prepare clients through business and financial workshops as well as one-on-one coaching and training programs to help women and men grow their business ideas to the next level.

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