SBA Launches New Online Training Course: Winning Federal Contracts - A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Women who own small businesses will be able to use a new online U.S. Small
Business Administration training course to learn how to identify and take
advantage of federal contracting opportunities. The new training course, Winning
Federal Contracts: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs, is part of an ongoing
government-wide initiative to promote opportunities for women-owned businesses
in the area of government contracting.

This free online tutorial is a practical and easy to use guide that walks a
woman-owned small business through the contracting process. SBA is committed to
ensuring that women-owned businesses receive at least 5 percent of federal
contracts and believes better training opportunities are central to meeting this
government-wide goal.

"Federal contracts can provide unique opportunities for women entrepreneurs and
small business owners to grow their businesses and create jobs, particularly
during these tough economic times," Administrator Karen Mills said. "It`s also a
win for federal agencies, by contracting with women-owned small businesses; they
are working with some of the most innovative and dynamic companies in the
country."

The SBA`s Office of Women`s Business Ownership oversees a national network of
more than 100 Women`s Business Centers (WBCs) that provide education and
training to help women start and grow small businesses. In addition, the SBA has
68 district offices and other resource partners throughout the country available
to train and counsel women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking
government contracts.

"This online training course makes critical information and training available
to an even wider array of women entrepreneurs and small business owners," said
Ana Harvey, assistant administrator for SBA`s Office of Women`s Business
Ownership. "SBA wants to help ensure they have the tools and resources they need
to compete for and win federal contracts."

The Winning Federal Contracts course is designed to help women entrepreneurs
learn about the federal procurement process and to prepare them to compete for
contracting opportunities. The self-paced guide uses audio and script to provide
information about contract rules, how to sell to the government and where to
find contracts.

The Winning Federal Contracts course is available on SBA`s Web site at
www.sba.gov or directly at www.sba.gov/fedcontractingtraining. It is indexed by
subject matter, and includes direct links to additional contracting resources.

Release Number: 09-71

U.S. Small Business Administration
Cecelia Taylor, 202-401-3059
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

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