Women's Business Alliance - Central awarded 2023 Minnesota Women's Business Center of the Year

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named the Women’s Business Alliance - Central as the 2023 Minnesota Women’s Business Center (WBC) of the Year. The Women’s Business Alliance is a program of the Entrepreneur Fund and was chosen for its excellence and innovation in training, counseling culturally and economically diverse women entrepreneurs, and serving as a community champion for women-owned small businesses.

“Women starting and growing small businesses in the greater central Minnesota area have an outstanding advocate in Sandy Voigt at the Women’s Business Alliance,” said SBA Minnesota District Director Brian McDonald. “The classes, mentoring and access to capital they provide makes a huge difference in the lives of the women business owners, their employees and their families.”

The Women’s Business Alliance program provides business training classes, access to small business loans, one-to-one business advice and a community of support for their clients, enabling them to start and grow their small businesses. They work with committed, skilled professionals who volunteer to provide technical assistance and mentorship tailored to women business owners.

Sandy Voigt, the WBC Director at the Women’s Business Alliance, draws on her deep experience increasing economic self-sufficiency for individuals and communities to lead WBC training, consulting, and lending programs. Prior to joining the Women’s Business Alliance, Sandy worked with the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls, MN, and Region Five Development Commission in Staples, MN, assisting with their business financing programs, community and economic development grants, and providing technical assistance.

Sandy works tirelessly to ensure women business owners and entrepreneurs have the support they need. She has led the effort to establish and grow this Women’s Business Center over the past five years and has personally worked with 546 individual business owners and 369 small businesses.  Through her dedication, experience, and empathy for woman entrepreneurs, Sandy has built a strong ecosystem that is a testament to the success of the Women’s Business Alliance.

Sandy and the Women's Business Alliance - Central will be recognized during National Small Business Week, which will be held from April 30 - May 6, 2023. Recognition and educational events will occur throughout the week at each of the SBA’s 10 regions and 68 district offices. In Minnesota, the SBA will be honoring Small Business Week awardees at an invitation only event for the winners, resource partners and guests. 

Registration for the 2023 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit is now open. The two-day online event will take place from May 2-3, 2023. Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required. To register, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.

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