| Tops for women-owned firms | ||||||
| Rank | Area | Percentage | ||||
| 1. District of Columbia | 34.5 | |||||
| 2. Maryland | 32.6 | |||||
| 10. Virginia | 30.1 | |||||
| Nation | 28.7 | |||||
| Biggest counties | ||||||
| 5 | Montgomery County | 32.4 | ||||
| 11 | Fairfax County | 31.2 | ||||
| Source: U.S. Census | ||||||
The District of Columbia and Maryland have the highest percentages of women-owned businesses in the nation. Women in D.C. own more than 34 percent of businesses, ranking first, according to newly released 2007 Census Bureau figures. Following the District, Maryland women own more than 32 percent of businesses, placing second, according to the 2002 census. Virginia came in 10th, at 30 percent, with the entire region trumping the nation’s 29 percent rate.
“This is great news for women in our area,” said Bridget Dean, district director of the Washington Metropolitan District Office for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Dean attributes the success of women in the area to its healthy ecosystem of support for women in the region, including help
from both local and federal government.
“There are opportunities in D.C. that are extensively diverse with jobs in IT and D.C. fashion,” she said. “Women can tap into their creative and entrepreneurial skills, and become wildly successful.”
Women also are helped by the region’s high educational level — Washington is one of the most educated areas in the country — which tends to produce more startups, said Anirban Basu, chief executive officer of Sage Policy Group Inc.
Despite the recession, the increase in women’s businesses is expected to continue.
There has been a significant uptick in interest about startups from both women and men, said Sally Sternbach, executive director of Rockville Economic Development Inc., Rockville’s economic development arm.
The census was conducted before the recession hit, but Basu said the economic downturn actually could have benefited those interested in starting their own business.
“The fact that so many industries shed jobs during the downturn could show many dislocated women may have started their own businesses,” he said. “Sometimes job loss can create business.”
As women continue to create and build their businesses, the new Women-Owned Small Business program for federal contracts will begin in February. The program will set aside contracts of less than $3 million for competition solely among female-owned small businesses.
“Once the program is up and running, we’ll be able to help women-owned businesses find new opportunities to do business with the federal government,” Bean said. “This will be one more element to help women-owned businesses flourish.”
