The Women's Business Center (WBC) in Northern Virginia is part of a national network of more than 100 educational centers that are designed to empower women to reach their small business goals and share their success with others. We provide current and potential small business owners, including women, veterans, and members of minorities, primarily in Fairfax County, Virginia with access to resources to help them achieve their dreams, ensure their financial security and that of their families, and contribute to the economic growth of their communities. The WBC is managed by Cindy Butler. Before joining CBP, Cindy was the director of the Washington Women's Business Center in Seattle, WA. During her time there, she trained thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs and advised more than 600 clients, helping many of them open businesses ranging from art to a French bakery to renting scooters.
She also served as the executive director of two nonprofit organizations and co-founded one of these organizations to work with women business owners in towns in Ghana and Kenya. The SBA provides incredible information to train and educate small business owners every step of the way. The Northern Virginia Women's Business Center offers free counseling services to help hundreds of small and emerging businesses every year. The Community Business Partnership Women's Business Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the United States and receives additional support from the Fairfax County Office of Children's Affairs and Fairfax County Supervisors. The Community Business Partnership Women's Business Center is proud to have the support of valuable and effective partners who help us achieve our mission. These partners include Community Business Partnership, an equal opportunity service provider, lender, and employer; Karen Smaw, FCEDA's director of business diversity, investment, and entrepreneurship; the Fairfax County section of One Million Cups, a networking and support group founded by the Kauffman Foundation; and several minority-centered community organizations that aim to generate economic strength and prosperity for businesses of all backgrounds. According to the latest economic census, African Americans own nearly 9,000 businesses in Fairfax County. Smaw has also organized the Procurement Academy workshop series for companies interested in contracting with the government as well as workshops for companies interested in exporting goods and services. The Women's Business Center is a subsidiary of the Community Business Partnership, a nonprofit organization that is tax-exempt under the 501(c) (tax exempt) law.
This organization works in collaboration with several local, regional, and national organizations to promote the growth of small businesses in Fairfax County and beyond. At the Northern Virginia Women's Business Center we are committed to helping women entrepreneurs reach their goals. We provide access to resources such as counseling services, workshops, networking events, mentorship programs, and more. Our goal is to empower women business owners so they can achieve financial security for themselves and their families while contributing to the economic growth of their communities.
