Horsley calls for more support for women owned businesses

Hamden, July 27, 2018 – Women owned businesses have doubled in Connecticut in the last 20 years, yet that growth lags behind most other states. Valerie Horsley, a candidate for State Senate in District 17, visited women-owned businesses in Naugatuck, Bethany, Beacon Falls and Woodbridge to learn about ways that Connecticut can support women entrepreneurs.

Connecticut has women-owned business resources like the Small or Minority Business Enterprise and the Women’s Business Development Council, which offers free classes and seminars on financial and entrepreneurial training. The University of Hartford has a Women’s Business Center that advises, trains and mentors women in business skills. Yet, women entrepreneurs are largely unaware of these programs.

“Women face barriers to start their own businesses,” said Valerie Horsley. “Most of the women entrepreneurs that I met repeatedly said that they were unaware of programs that exist to support them in our state.”

Women-owned businesses seem to be particularly thriving in Naugatuck, Connecticut where many women entrepreneurs have opened businesses in the area. “My business has benefited from the advice and support from the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring organic food to our town,” said Lydia LeBlanc, owner of Paladin Café located at 180 Church Street in Naugatuck.

One possible example of best practices to support women and minority owned businesses is the Business Advisory Council in Nevada that provides education, small business showcases, and small business loans. Nevada had the largest increase in women owned small businesses in the nation over the last twenty years.

One business owner in Naugatuck, Patricia Angersola of Trish’s Treasures said,” Being a new small business owner, it would be great to organize a meeting where business owners can share ideas, concerns, and talk about resources. Working together can only make each of us more successful.”

For more information contact: Valerie Horsley, valerieforct@gmail.com