Women Want Their Fair Share Too

Many believe that women do not get a fair shake when it comes to government contracts in business. Perhaps this is why many women have gotten together in entrepreneurial women's groups, to work together towards the common cause of profits and sustainable businesses. Not long ago, I was discussing this with a female entrepreneur over a cup of coffee at Starbucks. We both laughed when we read an article in the LA times while we were sitting and talking about how she might go about marketing or business locally.

In fact, a recent article in the Los Angeles Times titled; "Minorities, Women Urge LA to Share the Wealth - Black, Latino, and Asian Owned Business call on the City to Steer 35% of its $1.1 Billion in Annual Contracts to them, and Women Owned Firms," by Cyndia Zwahlen published in November of 2010.

If local governments, and state agencies will open their contracts and bidding up to women-owned businesses, and work to steer those contracts towards them, then perhaps they can do just as well as many of the male owned businesses which currently dominate many of the contracts in some of the regional markets. Luckily, I am proud to announce that the Small Business Administration has indeed made it easier for women to bid on and get federal contracts for services and products.

In fact, when you fill out the form at the GSA, there are several boxes to check if you are a woman owned business and can prove it. Some men think this is unfair, because they believe everyone should be treated equally, and the best person to get the contract, whether it is a woman or a man. Suffice it to say, after talking to my friend who's a woman entrepreneur, I also saw her point, and understand that she is doing what is in her own best self interests to try to put her business where it belongs and in her opinion we must; level playing field for women-owned businesses. Indeed, I hope you will please consider this woman's topic of the day, and think on it.

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