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We do what we do because WE LOVE WHAT WE DO! Getting acknowledged for some we love is icing on the cake and pushes us to continue this much needed work in our community.

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Congratulations!

Congrats to Marthia Bell, owner of Living Made Easy Homes,LLC., on being awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration District Director Award, by Thalia Mendez, WWBIC's Regional Project Director of WWBIC Greater Milwaukee.

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Entrepreneurship powers women’s wealth equity, job creation in Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owner Marthia Bell of Living Made Easy (center) at ribbon cutting ceremony of new building after receiving the Wisconsin 2034 District Director Award by Eric Ness, District Director of SBA Wisconsin (right). With Geri Aglipay, Regional Administrator (left)

By Geri Sanchez Aglipay—U.S. Small Business Administration Great Lakes Regional Administrator 

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Women make an average of 84 cents an hour for every dollar paid to men, and women accumulate 32% of the wealth men generate. 

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Pay disparities are pronounced for women of color – Black, Native American, Latina and Hispanic, Asian American— as well as women with disabilities and those with child and elder care responsibilities. 

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However, entrepreneurship is a significant labor solution that can close the gender wealth gap. In October, we recognize National Women’s Small Business Month and the 12 million women-owned small businesses nationwide who employ over 10 million workers. 

Under the Biden Harris Administration, women are leading the historic small business start-up boom with more than 157,000 woman-owned companies in Wisconsin generating over $7.8 million in payroll per Census data. As jobs are created, women’s opportunities for economic equality increase. 

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Current federal investments in America’s infrastructure, small businesses, and workforce from the landmark CHIPs and Science Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law help advance women’s labor force equality in the Badger state. 

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With the traditional sectors, new collar industries, R&D industries related to energy independence, and the resurging skilled trades – including a whopping 35% increase of women in manufacturing – Wisconsin female entrepreneurs are essential for an inclusive economy that also considers how care systems support working women. 

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Healthcare and social services are number one industry for women owners nationwide, as represented by Marthia Bell, owner of Living Made Easy and the 2023 Wisconsin SBA District Director Awardee who homes serves families in the Greater Milwaukee area. The second ranked industry for women-owned businesses is the professional, scientific, and technical sector as exemplified by COnovate scientist entrepreneur Carol Hirschmugl. 

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Carol utilized an SBA SBIR grant for her nanomaterials operations to improve lithium battery performance. 

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As SBA Regional Administrator its meaningful to witness how diverse Wisconsin women small business owners catalyze the state’s economy and influence job and financial security for themselves and their employees. 

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Yet obstacles persist that reduce women’s wealth building opportunities. It’s why the Biden Harris administration champions women’s access to capital and credit. 

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Equity is a top priority for SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman. She’s committed to resources, services, advocacy and technology that help women overcome historic barriers and exercise their rights to own a business and strengthen equitable fair market competition. 

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Under Administrator Guzman’s leadership, SBA Women’s Business Centers are now in every state, DC and Puerto Rico. 

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Investing in America as a whole-of-government under President Biden means women can learn a skilled trade from a Labor Department apprenticeship, and work with the SBA Wisconsin District Office for an SBA-backed loan or credit line, plus no-cost counseling to hang their own shingle. 

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Women forge economic opportunities, and since part of October is Hispanic Heritage month – notably Latinas, Hispanic women open businesses six times faster than other groups. 

I invite the community and stakeholders to partner with the SBA and enhance women small business owner’s equitable paths to wealth equality. For help with Wisconsin women small businesses, contact the SBA Wisconsin District Office. 

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SBA honors two Black woman-owned businesses: Plush Clothing in Racine, Living Made Easy in Milwaukee

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2Swift Suits owner Eric Dogans, SBA Regional Administrator Geri Aglipay, Yolanda Coleman, US Senator Tammy Baldwin, SBA Wisocnsin District Director Eric Ness and Racine Mayor Cory Mason. Photo by Shirah Apple, SBA.

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Yolanda Coleman signed a lease on a new retail space in downtown Racine, and two weeks later found out the breast cancer had returned. She forged ahead. Then, nine months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Still, she forged ahead.

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Coleman started and sustained Plush Clothing, a clothing boutique for full-figured women – two thirds of the retail clothing market – with the help of financial support from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), both of which have supported the business since she launched in 2019. 

“My whole mission is for women to be their best by looking their best,” she said.

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On Thursday, SBA honored her with the 2012 SBA Wisconsin Women in Business Champion Award.

“This award means so much to me. And I’m so grateful. I don’t believe that I would be here without the SBA and without the help of WWBIC,” Coleman said in an interview after the award ceremony, which was attended by Racine Mayor Cory Mason and US Senator Tammy Baldwin.

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Also honored on Thursday was Marthia Bell, founder of Living Made Easy homes in Milwaukee. She was given the 2023 SBA Wisconsin District Director Award. Living Made Easy, which owns four supportive living homes for people facing issues like mental illness or addiction. 

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The company broke ground Thursday on a new adult day care facility that will serve up to 30 people at a time.

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