Winning federal contracts: a guide for women entrepreneurs.

SBA launches a new online training course.

As was reported in the October 2009 The Practicing CPA, on September 1, 2009, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched an online training course to strengthen access to contracting opportunities for small businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, disadvantaged individuals, and veterans. The training course, "Recovery Act Opportunities: How to Win Federal Contracts," is part of a federal government initiative.

On October 14, 2009, the SBA launched another training course to help women who own small businesses. The new training course, "Winning Federal Contracts: A Guide for Women Entrepreneurs," is part of an ongoing government-wide initiative to promote opportunities in government contracting for women-owned businesses.

Contract quota: at least 5%

This free online tutorial is a practical and easy to use guide that walks a woman-owned small business through the contracting process. SBA is committed to ensuring that women-owned businesses receive at least 5% of federal contracts and believes better training opportunities are central to meeting this goal.

Administrator Karen Mills said, "Federal contracts can provide unique opportunities for women entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their businesses and create jobs, particularly during these tough economic times. It's also a win for federal agencies, by contracting with women-owned small businesses, they are working with some of the most innovative and dynamic companies in the country."

A network of women's business centers

The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership oversees a...