Black Rose Entrepreneurial Awards Luncheon & Annual Meeting

LISBAC

Dear BWE Friends,

Please join Black Women Enterprises (BWE) and fellow business leaders, in a historical initiative to identify and pay tribute to prominent women business owners of color at The Black Rose Entrepreneurial Awards Luncheon & Annual Meeting. The small business community of color is historically unidentified, underutilized and underserved. Your participation and support will change this paradigm.

The Black Rose is the rarest of the roses. It lends its name because; the black woman business owner is the rarest of the entrepreneurs, especially in the private and public sector procurement process. BWE continually acknowledges and celebrates the contributions to our nation’s economy and society made by women business owners of color. Inclusive in our mission, BWE honors women business owners of all ethnic origins; Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American. BWE accomplishes and delivers were others fail. Name a better organization that does the same?

According to The Center for Women's Business Research:
Key Facts about Women-Owned Businesses

The Overall Picture: 2008-2009

10.1 million firms are owned by women (50% or more), employing more than 13 million people, and generating $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008.
Three quarters of all women-owned businesses are majority owned by women (51% or more), for a total of 7.2 million firms, employing 7.3 million people, and generating $1.1 trillion in sales.
Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 40% of all privately held firms.

Businesses Owned by Women of Color

1.9 million firms are majority-owned (51% or more) by women of color in the U.S.
These firms employ 1.2 million people and generate $165 billion in revenues annually.

Million Dollar Businesses

One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.
3% of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more compared with 6% of men-owned firms.

BWE established in 1993, is New York State’s first and only nonprofit organization established primarily to promote greater opportunities and success among the small business community of color. Offering business counseling, education, technical assistance, procurement assistance, business certifications, vendor/supplier registrations, RFP/RFI/RFQ & Bid response assistance, strategic marketing programs, business referrals and collaborative support partnerships. BWE actively assists the small business community reach their fullest potential.

Today BWE is New York State’s largest women’s business owners association. An inclusive, ethnically diverse membership organization, with over 2,450 members statewide and 425 members across the United States and a unique mission to…

Identify and remove the barriers that impede the success of women business owners of color from participating in government/private sector procurement, promote equal access to capital, educate, advocate, reverse trends that foster industry failure and serve as a clearing house and referral resourcel for all information related to business growth and development.

Although BWE’s core mission is the advancement of black women business owners, we do not discriminate. We serve all.

Help BWE help the small business community of color, the most unidentified, underutilized and underserved segment of small business. Your participation ensures BWE’s continued success. We appreciate your interest and look forward to your response.

Warmest personal regards,