Blog
March 18, 2024

EDA and WBENC Leaders Discuss Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Opportunity for Women’s History Month 2024

As part of Women’s History Month 2024 observances at EDA, Assistant Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo recently hosted a discussion on women entrepreneurship and innovation with Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, a critical provider of resources and advocacy for women business owners. 

Thumbnail for video: Celebrating Women in Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

Castillo and Eason discuss some of those resources available to help women thrive, and ruminate on opportunities for continued empowerment and integration of women in all aspects of the American economy.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is committed to ensuring the promise of American prosperity is equitably realized. In addition to EDA programs and resources, bureaus throughout the Department are actively engaged in serving the needs of American women in business.  Just some of the many opportunities include: 

  • The Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) Business Centers for Enterprising Women of Color promotes women entrepreneurs as engines of economic growth in their communities. These Centers focus on helping minority women-owned businesses secure contracts and capital, create jobs, and grow competitive businesses. 
  • At the International Trade Administration, the Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Program supports women entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses into new markets. 

  • The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office operates the Women’s Entrepreneurship (WE) program, a community-focused, collaborative, and creative initiative to encourage and empower more women founders across America.  

Join EDA on March 27 for a webinar about business resources for women planned in conjunction with the Tory Burch Foundation.  REGISTER HERE: Scaling with Federal Funding (toryburchfoundation.org) 

Follow EDA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn throughout the next month for updates on EDA observances and activities in celebration of Women’s History Month.