[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WOMEN'S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 1998

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I rise 
today to commend the Women's Business Development Center, which is 
located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  The Women's Business Development Center (WBDC) is a non-profit 
organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of women. The Center 
provides services and programs that support and accelerate women's 
business ownership and strengthen the impact of women on the economy. 
The Center enables women to launch new businesses and helps those 
currently in business to remain successful.
  The WBDC was formed in July, 1995 with the assistance of a three-year 
matching fund grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's 
Office of Women's Business Ownership. By offering a full range of 
services and utilizing the expertise of successful women business 
owners to deliver its programs, the Women's Business Development Center 
is the Greater Philadelphia Region's focal point for women's economic 
empowerment opportunities.
  To date, the Women's Business Development Center has provided 
information, business assessment, training and counseling services to 
over 4,500 potential and existing women business owners. The 
metropolitan Philadelphia area has 127,100 women-owned business 
enterprises that employ 448,500 people and generate over $56 billion in 
sales. Women-owned business are a viable economic force and WBDC is 
vital to their continued growth and success.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Geri 
Swift, President of the WBDC. Working with the community, business 
organizations, and all levels of government and the corporate sector, 
Geri has played an essential role in supporting the growth and 
development of entrepreneurial business ventures. In addition to being 
the current President of WBDC, Ms. Swift serves as the national vice 
president of the National Association of Women Business Owner's (NAWBO) 
and as a director of the National Foundation of Women Business Owners. 
Geri Swift was also the founding president of the NAWBO, Greater 
Philadelphia Chapter.

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