[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9519-9520]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS GREATER DETROIT CHAPTER 
                    CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit Chapter, 
which tonight will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. Since 1980, members 
of the Greater Detroit Chapter have maintained their commitment not 
only to helping fellow women business owners throughout Michigan, but 
also to helping the communities in which these businesses reside.
  In its twenty years, the Greater Detroit Chapter, originally the 
Michigan Chapter, has done much to publicize the efforts of women 
business owners, and to create alliances between women business owners 
in the State of Michigan. In 1982, chapter members organized the first 
statewide conference for women business owners, during which awards 
were given to women business owners in the following categories: 
Pioneer, Innovator, Dedication to Women Business Owners and Community 
Service.

[[Page 9520]]

  In bringing women business owners together from throughout the state, 
the chapter makes it easier for members to work together on a local 
level. In 1994, NAWBO North, a networking group of Northern Oakland 
County members, was formed. In the years since, following the 
successful model of NAWBO North, satellites have been established in 
Plymouth, Detroit, Sterling Heights, Brighton, Southfield and Ann 
Arbor. Involvement in a satellite allows chapter members to work with 
one another to benefit the community. Currently, 89 percent of chapter 
members donate money to charities, 76 percent volunteer their time to 
local organizations, 65 percent serve on local boards, and 61 percent 
mentor other women.
  The Greater Detroit Chapter of the NAWBO has also established many 
programs to assist women owned businesses. In 1990, the Greater Detroit 
Chapter helped to launch the EXCELI (The Initiative for Entrepreneurial 
Excellence) Project in Detroit, along with corporate partner Deloitte 
and Touche, the Small Business Administration, NAWBO's National 
Foundation and the YWCA. In 1994, the chapter took over sole 
responsibility of this program.
  In 1993, Huntington Banks of Michigan entered into a partnership with 
the chapter to offer market-rate financing to chapter member companies 
through a special lending process for service businesses. And in June 
of 1996, Comerica Bank announced its Power Perks Program, in which 
ideas, resources, and benefits are provided exclusively to NAWBO 
members. Over the next two years, Comerica invested approximately $10 
million in the program.
  Mr. President, women-owned small businesses are the fastest growing 
segment of the business community. By the year 2010, they will make up 
more than one-half of all businesses in the United States. Traveling 
through the State of Michigan I know that women business owners are 
working very hard to be successful. The twentieth anniversary of the 
National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit Chapter 
is certainly evidence of this.
  And this incredible growth has been accomplished in spite of some 
disadvantages. For example, it is clear that the federal government 
does not do business with a representative percentage of women-owned 
businesses. This issue was brought to my attention by NAWBO members at 
a Small Business Committee meeting I held last August in Troy, 
Michigan.
  Mr. President, in 1994, the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act 
established a modest five percent goal of federal procurement dollars 
for women-owned businesses. Last year, though, women-owned businesses 
received only 2.4 percent of the total dollar value of all prime 
federal contracts.
  Mr. President, these standards have to change. There are too many 
women in this nation working too hard, only to not find the proper 
support from Washington. Earlier this week, I cosponsored Senate 
Resolution 311, a resolution urging the President to adopt a policy in 
support of the five percent federal procurement goal, and to encourage 
the heads of the federal departments and agencies to undertake a 
concerted effort to meet this five percent goal before the end of the 
fiscal year 2000. I strongly hope that this action on my part and the 
part of my colleagues will lead to an increased procurement for women 
owned businesses this fiscal year.
  Mr. President, I applaud the many members of the National Association 
of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit Chapter on the great work they 
are doing for women business owners throughout the State of Michigan. I 
feel that there is much more we can do here in Washington to support 
them, and I hope that changes will be made, and followed through upon, 
in this regard. On behalf of the entire United States Senate, I wish 
the greater Detroit Chapter a happy 20th Anniversary, and continued 
success in the future.

                          ____________________