Women’s Business Development Council celebrates giving $10m in four years

The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) announced at a ceremony in West Hartford on July 1 that it has given away grants to small and medium sized businesses across the state worth more than $10 million since 2020.

The WBDC provides access to support and funding for businesses across the state, primarily, but not exclusively, those owned by women.

Their programs include Ignite, which provides grants of between $2,500 to $10,000 for women owned businesses and the Child Care Business Opportunity Fund which makes available up to $25,000 to businesses providing childcare services.

“While surpassing the $10 million mark in less than four years is a monumental achievement that we are incredibly proud of,” said WBDC Founder and CEO Fran Pastore, “it’s what these grants mean to our state’s women-owned small businesses that is most important. These funds have been instrumental in helping businesses across the state launch, grow, and thrive. This funding is having a real, measurable impact on our Main Street businesses and on our state’s economy.”