[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS WEEK

 Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 
tremendous economic contributions made by women business owners in 
Illinois and to recognize the work of the Women's Business Development 
Center, a woman's business training and technical assistance center 
that has assisted over 30,000 women in realizing their dreams of 
business ownership.
  The newest statistics from the National Foundation for Women's 
Business Ownership confirm that women entrepreneurs now make up more 
than 38 percent of all business and continue to be the most dynamic, 
fastest growing sector of our Nation's economy. I am proud to tell you 
that there are now 384,700 women-owned businesses in Illinois, 
employing 1.5 million workers and generating $195 billion in annual 
sales, a growth of 139 percent in 7 years.
  Women business owners in Illinois area vibrant sector of our State 
economy and strong advocates for women's business ownership nationwide. 
Recently one of Illinois's own, Sheila G. Talton, president and CEO of 
Unisource Network Services, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, was 
appointed to serve on the National Women's Business Council. Unisource 
Network Services provides network interrogation consulting, including 
voice, data and multimedia consulting. Ms. Talton, who has 20 years of 
experience in the information systems and telecommunications field, 
formed the company in 1986 and sales are projected at $17 million this 
fiscal year. The company services an elite class of Fortune 500 
companies, major educational and health care institutions and public 
agencies.
  Unisource Network Services exemplifies the type of high-growth 
business that is attractive to investors in Illinois and around the 
country. In fact, Ms. Talton financed the growth of her technology 
company with venture capital investments. Unfortunately her story is 
usual; I'm told that most women entrepreneurs are having difficulties 
raising the capital they need to take their technology-based companies 
to the next level. Though women are starting high-growth business at 
unprecedented rates, they currently access less than 5 percent of all 
venture capital investments.
  Mr. President, the strength of the economy of Illinois and the Nation 
depends upon the success of enterprises like Unisource. The 
opportunities to launch and grow businesses and the demand for training 
and capital have never been greater. In order for these new businesses 
to flourish, we must ensure that their access to capital and markets is 
unimpeded and that they have information and resources they need to 
compete at the speed of the Internet.

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