The extraordinary success of "Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century" continued this past fall as more than 1,000 women business owners gathered in Tampa, Florida for a full-day conference to network, sharpen skills and learn about policy initiatives being advanced by the Bush Administration to help strengthen their businesses, and the economy.

The Tampa event was the fourth in a series of women entrepreneurship summits organized by the Department of Labor (DOL), Small Business Administration (SBA) and partner organizations. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao provided keynote remarks during the luncheon where she highlighted the progress of women business owners in the economy and the Administration's record with respect to addressing their key concerns.

"Women-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all U.S. firms, employing over 9 million workers and generating more than a trillion dollars annually in revenue. Many of the new women-owned businesses are in so-called non-traditional industries, such as construction, finance and transportation. They are proof that nothing is off-limits to the limitless talents of women in Florida," exclaimed Secretary Chao.

Secretary Chao provided an update on the progress that President Bush and the Labor Department have made in the areas of affordable health coverage, tax relief, regulatory reform and compliance assistance, and government contracting opportunities with women-owned businesses.

"I'm very proud of the fact that the Labor Department has surpassed the congressional mandate and last year awarded more than five percent of its $1.64 billion procurement dollars to women-owned small businesses. That's $84 million in new contracting opportunities for women-owned small businesses," reported Secretary Chao.

Here are some interesting results from the polling at the event by the Public Forum Institute, which can also be found at http://www.publicforuminstitute.org/publications/eforum/03-09-23-fl.htm

• 32% say that access to financing and capital were their largest barrier when starting their business.
  
  
• 33% say that they rely most on personal savings or assets for capital.
  
  
• 56% would like to provide healthcare to their employees but cannot afford to.
  
  
• 52% would like the government to focus most on increasing accessibility to affordable health insurance over the next year.

Participants also heard from senior Bush Administration officials and agency personnel including SBA Administrator Hector Barreto, who welcomed participants through a morning keynote address. Women's Bureau Director Shinae Chun moderated "Workplace Solutions for the 21st Century Workforce," one of seven workshops conducted throughout the day. These special sessions covered issues such as accessing capital, general marketing, winning government contracts, doing business with corporate America, and going global.

Secretary Chao thanked attendees for the key role they are playing in creating jobs and growing the economy. On a similar note, she reported that women are leading the way at the Department of Labor as well.

"A full 50% of the top leadership is women-this gender parity is more than any other cabinet department in the administration and a record in the history of our country. We don't just talk about women's progress-we make it happen," emphasized Secretary Chao.

To read more about "Women's Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century", please visit women-21.gov.

The Women's Bureau is pleased to support this important initiative.

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