[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 131 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE OKLAHOMA WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 1997

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, the Oklahoma Women's Business 
Center, serving all of central Oklahoma, is an excellent example of a 
public-private nonprofit organization uniting and coordinating a 
multitude of Oklahoma resources in support of small women-owned 
companies. Mr. Speaker, I visited the Oklahoma Women's Business Center 
during the August recess and learned first hand of their superb efforts 
to train, mentor, coach, fund, and encourage women-owned businesses. 
Over the past 2 years the Women's Business Center was integral in 
assisting women-owned businesses in developing strategic plans, 
obtaining expansion capital, and expanding market share. The Oklahoma 
Women's Business Center can point to numerous successes, like Rosemary 
Carslile, owner of Mattress Furniture Direct in Norman, OK, who 
experienced a 30-percent growth in sales, in part, because of the help 
she received from this program. The economic leverage realized from 
programs like this contribute immensely to women's entrepreneurial 
efforts and are responsible for creating products, services, and new 
jobs within the community. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support programs 
like the Oklahoma Women's Business Center.

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