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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 35 FA C T BO O K / D O I N G B U S I N E S S I N M A I N E B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S Resources for underserved communities e SBA also off ers a number of programs specifi cally designed to meet the needs of the underserved communities. Women business owners Women entrepreneurs are changing the face of America's economy. In the 1970s, women owned less than 5% of the nation's businesses. Today, they are majority owners of about a third of the nation's small businesses and are at least equal own- ers of about half of all small busi- nesses. SBA serves women entrepre- neurs nationwide through its various programs and services, some of which are designed especially for women. e SBA's Offi ce of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) serves as an advocate for women-owned businesses. e offi ce oversees a na- tionwide network over 100 Women's Business Centers that provide busi- ness training, counseling and men- toring geared specifi cally to women, especially those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. e program is a public-private partner- ship with locally-based nonprofi ts. Women's Business Centers serve a wide variety of geographic areas, population densities, and economic environments, including urban, sub- urban, and rural. Local economies vary from depressed to thriving, and range from metropolitan areas to entire states. Each Women's Business Center tailors its services to the needs of its individual community, but all off er a variety of innovative programs, often including courses in diff erent languages. ey provide training in fi nance, management, and marketing, as well as access to all of the SBA's fi nancial and procurement assistance programs. Veteran business owners For more information, visit www.sba.gov/veterans e Offi ce of Veterans Business Development (OVBD), has taken strides in expanding assistance to veteran, service-disabled veteran small business owners and reserv- ists by ensuring they have access to SBA's full-range of business/techni- cal assistance programs and services, and that they receive special con- sideration for SBA's entrepreneurial programs and resources. Operation Boots to Business For more information, visit www.sba.gov/bootstobusiness e aptly named Operation Boots to Business program builds on SBA's role as a national leader in entrepreneur- ship training. e program's mission is to develop veteran entrepreneurs from the approximately 250,000 service members who transition from the military each year. Native American Business Development For more information, visit www.sba.gov/naa e SBA Offi ce of Native American Aff airs (ONAA) ensures that American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to business development and expansion tools available through the agency's entre- preneurial development, lending and contracting programs. 1-800-564-0111 | eatonpeabody.com Augusta | Bangor | Brunswick | Ellsworth | Portland Business Law Commercial Finance Creditor and Debtor Rights Economic Development Employee Benefits Environmental & Land Use Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer Immigra on Intellectual Property Labor & Employment Legisla ve & Government Rela ons Li ga on / Dispute Resolu on Municipal Law & Finance Natural Resources & Timberlands Real Estate Tax Aquaculture Ar sts & Cultural Organiza ons Automo ve Banking & Financial Ins tu ons Business Startups Commercial & Residen al Developers Construc on Educa on Energy Healthcare Hospitality Land Conserva on Municipal, Quasimunicipal, & County Nonprofit & Charitable Organiza ons Professional Services Small Business Timberlands & Forest Products U li es Prac ce Areas Industries Statewide Prac ce. Local Service.

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