Women Supporting Women, Professionally!
Womanhood, motherhood, and entrepreneurship are all incredibly taxing individually, but many of us are doing all Three and making it look easy! First of all, if this is you, congratulations! You’re doing it! Business ownership is not for the frail of heart or mind, but you’re likely pursuing a dream and I’m proud of you! As one of those crazy women myself, I know the blood, sweat, and literal tears poured into every hour of entrepreneurship. Imagine my surprise at learning there is an entire organization here locally built to support me in my business endeavors!
Enter the Idaho Women’s Business Center!
IWBC has offices available throughout East Idaho in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Twin Falls with the main office in Nampa. Through the free membership offered by them, you gain access to advising and programming at little to no cost through funding provided via a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration! IWBC is actually paid by the Small Business Administration to help women in Idaho start or grow their business! While their services are similar to those provided by 
the Small Business Development Centers in Idaho Falls and Pocatello, IWBC focuses their efforts on women! Friendship and collaboration are encouraged and training, lunches, conferences, and networking events (all events can be found on their website) help them fulfill their mission to support women-owned businesses grow and succeed!
I was so excited to join a mentoring circle in 2021 through their Latina branch and meet with women in various industries weekly via zoom to brainstorm ideas and learn from professionals teaching on topics such as marketing, bookkeeping, and technology! I gained knowledge, but also friendship and community with women who had similar life and work experiences with me! I walked away excited to share what I learned! Because all offices have business advisors available at no cost, I know I have someone in my corner who (professionally) has my back! Appointments are available at your location, in-office, on Zoom, or even via phone! We are busy as moms and business owners and the team at Idaho Women’s Business Center understands the need or convenience!
The easiest way to get connected to other women in the area, also walking the steps of business-ownership, is by attending an event held locally.
We are excited to be sponsoring IWBC’s RefresHER on Friday, October 14th from 9am-4pm! I will personally be attending this “power-packed day to learn more about yourself and your business while making valuable connections.” and hope to see many of my friends there to learn about education, digital marketing, qualifying for and raising capital, leveraging local resources, and embracing your path from some powerhouse women!! I know I’ll walk away with a full cup and some new friends to network with and hope I’ll see many of you there!
Idaho is one of the last states to get a Women’s Business Center, so I am excited to represent Idaho well to continue to grow the resources available to us! For more information about IWBC, visit their website at https://www.idahowomen.org/ or schedule a call with Associate Director, Cheryl O’Brien via her Calendly here https://calendly.com/cobrien-15/30min
