Hamden Business Honored by Women’s Business Development Council

GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, October 31, 2017 – Hamden business owner Nancy Coffey was recently recognized by the Women’s Business Development Council at its 20th Anniversary Luncheon Gala held at the Greenwich Hyatt Regency.

The Women’s Business Development Council was founded in 1997 to provide the training, education and borrowing power necessary to empower women to successfully launch and grow their own businesses. In honor of their 20th anniversary, the Council presented their “20 for 20 Award” to 20 successful women entrepreneurs and women business owners, including Coffey, who have prospered from the not-for-profit’s services.

Nancy Coffey founded KTT Enterprises in 2005 as a custom Talalay latex foam manufacturer and supplier producing a variety of products ranging from cosmetic applicators for the TV/film industry to custom foam mattresses and high-end furniture cushions. Nearly 100 percent of the products sold by KTT are fabricated in its 14,000 square foot factory in Hamden.

Long-recognized as the signature annual women’s business gathering in Connecticut, the gala brought together nearly 700 supporters of women-owned businesses including Small Business Administration Chief Linda McMahon, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Congressman Jim Himes.

McMahon remarked that the women-owned businesses served by The Women’s Business Development Council are “not only serving our communities with products and services, they are providing paychecks to families and making our cities and towns vibrant places to live.”

She explained that small businesses create two out of every three net new jobs in the private sector with more than half of the U.S. workforce either employed by a small business or owning a small business. “Women in particular are driving a lot of that growth,” she said. “Research shows that women-owned small businesses are the fastest growing sector of our economy.”

Women’s Business Development Council CEO Fran Pastore addressed the crowd, “The Women’s Business Development Council’s work on behalf of women entrepreneurs has never been more relevant than it is today. Make no mistake about it; this is not a female issue. This is a socioeconomic imperative. When a woman can borrow money for income-generating activities like starting their own business or growing their own business, it has a ripple effect around our communities.”

About the Women’s Business Development Council:

Headquartered in Stamford with a satellite office in Derby, the 501 (c)(3) non-profit has served nearly 19,000 clients, assisted in the creation of nearly 1,800 businesses and supported the sustainability and expansion of 3,800 established businesses and created more than 4,900 jobs. For more information on the Women’s Business Development Council, visit ctwbdc.org.

###