Nashville among 6 cities to get Women’s Business Center

Women entrepreneurs will soon have an organization completely devoted to them.

Nashville was chosen as one of six locations by the U.S. Small Business Administration to open a Women’s Business Center across the country in 2015.

Appealing to the needs of women entrepreneurs during all stages of opening a business, the center will offer in-depth business consulting, classroom training, peer-to-peer learning and other programs. It also will help women-owned businesses in all areas, from retail to even the health care and automotive sectors.

“Women’s business ownership is growing exponentially, and we want to be a part of helping these entrepreneurs achieve their goals and have positive impacts upon our community,” Clint Gwin, president of Pathway Lending, said in a statement.

Pathway Lending, which specializes in providing resources for women- and minority-owned businesses, received a grant to operate the center, create programs and assemble a team. The Women’s Business Center will be in the Pathway Lending building at 201 Venture Circle.

Women are majority owners of about one-third of the nation’s small businesses and equal owners of about half of all small businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Currently, the only center in Tennessee is in Chattanooga.

For more information about Women’s Business Centers, visit www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/wbc.