We're helping women in business drive growth, reduce expenses, and increase profitability.

Dear members and friends of the USWCC:

Over the last weeks and months we have connected with women across the country to stay in tune with your needs. While many women in business are challenged by decreased consumer spending, other businesses are growing and dealing with the challenges of accessing capital to support their needs. And, universally, businesses are seeking new markets and ways to hold down expenses.

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce is here to help you on all fronts.

Please review the following and let us know how we can help you:

Access to Contracts -- The USWCC leverages our great relationships with federal agencies to bring you access to federal contracts. At next week's National Women Contractors' Week, we provide you with very deep access to contracts at the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, U.S. Army and many other agencies. If you haven't registered, you will be missing out on tremendous one-on-one sessions aimed to connect you with federal buyers. Attend one day, two days, or all three days and get connected to contracts with the federal government.

Women's Federal Procurement Program -- After more than a decade of delay, the U.S. Small Business Administration is finally taking positive steps to implement the Women's Federal Procurement Program (set-asides for women-owned firms). You may recall that the USWCC one a claim against the SBA for failure to implement this program. Read all about the new regulations,  learn if your NAICS code is in the list for the program, and register to receive updates.

New Markets -- The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce has established USWCC | MarketPlace which provides turnkey online stores, merchant processing, internet gateway services, and virtual merchant accounts for our small business and supplier members. The products/services from your store will also appear in the USWCC | Mall -- where women across the country may support other women in business by making purchases through USWCC | Mall. Associations may also have regional malls within our system to support sales directly within your region.

More New Markets -- Once you have one of our online stores, you may also qualify for the USWCC | Benefits+ Program. Through this program, you power our own member benefits program - reaching our entire network of members and associates.

Lower Costs -- The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce has several programs to assist you with lowering the cost of doing business. USWCC | New Deal provides discounted merchant processing accounts and gateway services, turnkey online stores, our USWCC | Benefits+ Card -- a prepaid MasterCard® card (which provides convenience and cost savings for your business, payroll, and personal payment needs), USWCC | Health & Benefits Solutions (group and individual health plans), and more.

Connections -- The new USWCC | Community 360 is open! Through this online community, we connect you with one another and with our ongoing education programs, tools and solutions. There is no cost to register. USWCC | Small Business and Supplier Members may also establish a featured business listing.

Get Started -- Let our USWCC | 360 Support Team help you get started leveraging our many resources and tools to help you drive growth, reduce expenses, and increase profitability.  And, if you haven't already - please join us.

As you can see, the USWCC is working hard for you. We're sponsored by the interests, aspirations, and needs of our members - not by corporate or political funds.

Best,

Margot Dorfman, CEO
U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

Dear Friends:

The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that National Women Contractors' Week will include an indepth session on the new Women's Federal Procurement Program (set-aside for certain women-owned small businesses).

We'll hear directly from the Small Business Administration about the proposed regulations, industries included in the program, how this set-aside will be innacted, requirements for authentication of women-owned status, and more.

Also included during National Women Contractors' Week are full day spotlights on opportunities with the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and U.S. Army -- as well as an extensive one-on-one session with dozens of federal agency representatives during our much requested industry segment.  (view the event packet)

There is a big push at the federal level to open the doors to contracts for women-owned small businesses.  Join us for National Women Contractors' Week and get connected to these opportunities.

Sincerely,

Margot Dorfman, CEO
U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

February 26, 2010:  U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce CEO Margot Dorfman testified before Congress during a joint hearingof the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business and Financial Services Committee.  She was asked to provide insights into the current status of small business lending.  (View as PDF)

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On December 9, 2009, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce formally endorsed the Consomer Federal Protection Act.  Below is the statement given by Margot Dorfman, CEO.

>>Download PDF of statement

The extraordinary abuse of small businesses and every day Americans by a financial industry that has taken unwarranted profits through ruthless predatory practices must be stopped. It is time for our Congressional leaders to act to support the financial protection and wellbeing of all Americans.