One of the most dynamic sectors of the New York City economy – women-owned businesses – has a new ally in the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network Women’s Business Center (WBC) in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

The center will offer one-on-one counseling, seminars, long-term training and service referrals to women entrepreneurs in order to build wealth and create employment opportunities by spurring growth in women-owned businesses.

According to Center for Women’s Business research, the number of privately held women-owned businesses in New York City has grown by 21.5 percent since 1997; this sector now accounts for over $65 million in sales and employs over 400,000 city residents.

However, women-owned businesses still represent only 37.5 percent of the total small business sector. Since, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), most new jobs in the U.S. economy are provided by small businesses, the BOC Women’s Business Center offers an excellent opportunity to provide assistance to the most dynamic portion of New York’s small business community, which continues to increase both community wealth and employment opportunities.

“BOC is excited to offer women business owners access to the technical and financial resources needed to start and run a successful business,” says Nancy Carin, executive director of BOC Network. “They represent an untapped pool of potential employers and community business leaders. The Women’s Business Center will allow BOC to focus resources on reaching these entrepreneurs and empower them to realize their vision. Their ideas, energy and entrepreneurial spirit are essential for the future growth and development of our communities.”

Beebe Okoye, a BOC Network client and owner of Kiva Café in Brooklyn, turned to BOC for help with securing business financing.

“I had very little knowledge of what challenges were before me,” Okoye recalls. “[BOC] coached me on how to improve my business plan and effectively present it to lenders and private investors.”

Kiva Café currently employs four people as well as offers the surrounding community a new café and catering service.

BOC Women’s Business Center will staff locations full-time in Brooklyn and Staten Island. The Brooklyn locations will be located at the central BOC Network office and the Staten Island location will be staffed in cooperation with West Brighton Community Local Development Corporation, a member of BOC Network.

For further information, contact Daniel Fisher by calling (718) 624-9115 or e-mailing wbc@bocnet.org