The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it will cohost two events this fall in Washington, D.C., and Florida as part of the 2024 National ChallengeHER road tour. The initiative, organized alongside Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and American Express (AMEX), aims to bring more women-owned firms into the federal government’s supply chain.
ChallengeHER is designed to encourage participation in the SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program and provide a platform for government agencies to meet qualified women-owned small business contractors.
The events will take place at George Mason University on October 10 and at the Marriott Harbor Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale on December 3. Registration for these free events is available at www.ChallengeHER.us.
“ChallengeHER has helped more than 26,000 women-owned small business owners gain access to federal contracts and grow their revenue by selling to the world’s largest buyer: the U.S. government,” said Jackie Robinson-Burnette, Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Business Development. “Our continued collaboration with Women Impacting Public Policy and American Express on the ChallengeHER initiative reaffirms the SBA’s pledge to eliminating disparities for women-owned businesses in the federal marketplace by empowering them to connect with federal buyers directly via matchmaking events and by continuously advocating on their behalf.”
Angela Dingle, President & CEO of WIPP, stated, “WIPP is honored to be a national partner on this much-needed and well-respected program. Now in its 11th year, we have served nearly 26,000 women-owned small businesses, providing the education and resources needed to navigate the road to success and sustainability during these historical times.”
Jessica Ling, Executive Vice President of Global Brand Advertising at American Express, added, “American Express has a long history of backing small businesses, providing the tools and resources they need to grow and thrive as we aim to help businesses do more business. We’re proud to continue to support ChallengeHER, which unlocks real opportunities for women-owned businesses to drive sales and growth through access to contracts and important connections.”
SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that under the Biden-Harris Administration's leadership, FY23 saw an all-time high of 28.4% of federal contract dollars awarded to women-owned small businesses (WOSB), totaling $30.9 billion.
The ChallengeHER events offer matchmaking opportunities between women-owned businesses and government contractors as well as networking sessions. The program includes training facilitated by subject-matter experts both in-person and online.
The schedule for the National ChallengeHER Road Tour includes stops in Detroit on June 17; Colorado Springs on August 22; Arlington at George Mason University campus on October 10; and Fort Lauderdale on December 3.
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