A subgroup of Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. (MCE), the Women’s Business Center (WBC) focuses on assisting women in business.
Since 2013, this initiative has been supporting the growth of businesses that are at least 51 percent female owned, with a footprint spanning eight counties in Maryland.
“Our services are free,” said MCE Women’s Business Center Director Lisa Twilley. “We cover the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County…A lot of people think, oh, we offer these services, but they can’t believe they’re free! We have training classes that can help, which cover a variety of topics. Plus, multiple other no-cost resources.”
Funding assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration enables the WBC to provide these resources and services free of charge.
Aspiring business owners and current entrepreneurs can access direct consulting services and education and loan application options.
Consulting starts with an intake where client needs are assessed. From there, consulting could include developing a business plan, getting connected to resources, obtaining mentoring, accessing small loans through MCE or learning more about business development and growth.
Since learning about business needs is a vast subject, WBC offers workshops on a wide variety of topics.
Workshops and classes just require registration to join. While many classes are still available online – which remains the most popular option – in-person classes are also available.
For the month of September, classes include: Grants and Government Contracting for your Daycare Business – Class One; WOSB Woman Owned Small Business – Government Contracting; Grants and Government Contracting for Your Daycare Business – Class Two; Business Plan and Cash Flow Projections; and Goal Setting for Success Masterclass.
Childcare business workshops are a newer edition.
Says Twilley, “Childcare workshops are geared towards women who are opening a home child care center or a basic center.”
The list of class topics expands and changes along with the needs of the community of entrepreneurs.
In addition to the support they provide to many businesses across Maryland, the WBC also hosts an annual Women in Business conference. The 10th conference was hosted in March at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, and it was their biggest turnout to date.
“We had a huge turnout with lots of vendors and lots of keynote speakers,” said Twilley. Around 180 participants took part in the full day event this year.
The next conference will be held on March 14, 2025. While it is too early to say what the 11th year will look like, Twilley says to keep an eye out on the website for details.
The annual conference isn’t the only upcoming event for the WBC.
Twilley shares, “MCE Women’s Business Center and Celebrez La Femme are joining forces for ‘Girls Night Out,’ a networking mixer. So save the date – Thursday, Oct. 10 – from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.”
The organization will also be hosting a Halloween cash bingo event on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Elks Lodge in Salisbury with games starting at 6 p.m.
MCE is honoring three local entrepreneurs with their annual MCE Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Oct. 11 and more information is available online at marylandcapital.org. This is a great opportunity to nominate a female entrepreneur.
To learn more about the Women’s Business Center, check out their newsletter, find classes or become a volunteer, visit womensbusinesscenteratmarylandcapitalenterprises.org. You can also contact them by phone at 410-546-1900 or visit them at their office, which is located at 314 Civic Ave. in Salisbury.
