BUFFALO, NY - The Women’s Business Center (WBC) at Canisius University marks its 20th anniversary this year. The WBC has been the home of unwavering commitment, empowerment and support for women entrepreneurs in our region for two decades and has catalyzed the success of thousands of businesses providing an invaluable platform for women to bring their entrepreneurial visions to life.
Kicking off the year-long celebration, an event titled "Cheers to 20 Years of Empowering Women in Business" was held on November 2, 2023, at the Montante Cultural Center at Canisius. This is just the beginning. The WBC has planned a series of events throughout the year, including a Sip & Shop Excursion in March 2024, followed by the Annual Ignite Awards Luncheon in May 2024.
Established in 2003, with the generous support of a five-year, $750,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the WBC at Canisius University (then Canisius College) has been a beacon for women entrepreneurs. Originally located at Canisius' Main Street campus in Demerly Hall and now a part of the main campus in Science Hall, the center's strategic partnership with the university and the School of Business has enabled it to offer unparalleled academic resources, professional counseling and a robust mentoring program to the eight counties of Western New York (WNY).
In the past year, the WBC has touched the lives of more than 300 entrepreneurs and thousands of businesses over the lifetime of the center.
This current year, 2023, saw the most diverse cohort to date where approximately 40% of business owners self-identify as Black, Indigenous or Persons of Color (BIPOC). The center's influence is evident in the launch of 20 new businesses, with an aggregate revenue generation of $32 million and supporting 170 jobs.
Over two decades, the WBC has been a cornerstone of support, providing indispensable resources like accelerator programs, online training modules on-demand, meticulously organized networking events and personalized counseling sessions spearheaded by local experts in the business sector.
Their innovative strides in recent years have included the launch of several new programs that resonate with the needs of the times: The Business Recovery Taskforce, a Building Allyships program, along with a comprehensive year-long E-commerce initiative, LLC Bootcamp, a dedicated Bootcamp for M/WBE Certification applications and more.
Working towards real quantifiable impact. Last year’s WBC results in WNY:
● Service to 300+ unique businesses/individuals
● Assisted with the launch of 20 new businesses
● Supported businesses through the creation of 45 new jobs and sustaining 170 jobs in total
● Clients saw combined gross revenues of $32 million
● Approximately 40% of businesses self-identifying as Black or minority-owned
This impressive list of achievements by our participating entrepreneurs, along with the fact that there are more women than ever turning to entrepreneurship to support themselves and potentially their families as well, underscores the urgent call for the WNY business community to unite in celebrating and bolstering women-led businesses.
Beyond metrics, the WBC is all about empowerment, engagement, education and unwavering support. Its mission encapsulates the center’s drive to empower entrepreneurs through education, connections and a tight-knit community. The center's vision remains steadfast in its goal to be the "Home of Women Entrepreneurship" in Western New York by serving women-owned businesses at every stage of business growth by providing services that meet them where they are.
In 1988, the Small Business Administration tested four women's business centers. In 1992, Congress funded an expansion that saw 102 centers open nationwide. The WBC was the first center opened within a college or university in 2003-2004.
The need continues. In 2023, during the SBA's second annual Women’s Business Summit, President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of supporting women in business, announcing the expansion of Women Business Centers across the nation. In the coming months, the SBA will expand the Women Business Centers network, bringing the total to 160 centers across the country that assist women entrepreneurs through training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities.
This 20th anniversary is not just a milestone for the WBC, it is a testament to the resilience, innovation and strength of every woman entrepreneur the center has had the privilege to support. The WBC, with its rich history and promising future, cordially invites the community, sponsors and supporters to join hands in celebrating and furthering the cause of women-led businesses.
About the Women's Business Center at Canisius University: A central pillar of support for women entrepreneurs in the WNY region, the WBC offers a range of services from advisory, business development, finance to training. With 35+ advisors and instructors, the center has consistently demonstrated its commitment to entrepreneurial excellence.
For sponsorship opportunities, media inquiries or to get involved, please contact: Sara Vescio, Executive Director, @email, 716-888-8285.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
