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Krista Buckel
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Association of Women’s Business Centers Recognizes WBC of Kentucky in First WBC of Excellence Program
LEXINGTON, KY. (January 4, 2024) – The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) recognized the Women’s Business Center of Kentucky (WBCKY) as a graduate of the first National WBC of Excellence program. Thirty-five Women’s Business Centers across the country joined WBCKY in graduating from program on December 15, which was sponsored by Dutch Brothers.
“It is more than a designation; it is a commitment to excellence, a testament to our dedication to the mission, vision, and values of serving entrepreneurs,” said Devanny King, Executive Director of Women’s Business Center of Kentucky. “We were honored to work alongside other participants to strengthen systems that serve business owners as part of AWBC’s inaugural excellence program; together, we’re creating a powerful narrative of empowerment and success for women-owned businesses.”
The program is designed to recognize organizations that demonstrate commitment and efficacy of the mission, vision, and values of their Women’s Business Center, achieving the greatest outcomes for women-owned businesses.
Participating WBCs partnered with peers in the cohort to complete five milestone assignments to identify gaps and areas of improvement like strategic goal setting, service delivery, and peer relationships.
“The Excellence Program is inspiring and empowering for all women in business and entrepreneurship,” said Milly Pineda, Director of DEI & Learning and Development. “Dutch Bros is honored to help support WBC and proud of the massive difference it makes in the lives of women. Congratulations to all the 2023 graduates!”
To learn more about WBCKY, visit https://www.wbckentucky.org,
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About Women’s Business Center of Kentucky: Founded in 2011, the Women’s Business Center of Kentucky helps women entrepreneurs, especially those economically or socially disadvantaged, start and grow businesses in Kentucky. The WBC is partly funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and hosted by Community Ventures Corporation, a private, non-profit community development organization.
About The Association of Women’s Business Centers: The Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998 to support the national network of Women’s Business Centers (WBC) with programming and advocacy. The AWBC works to secure economic justice and entrepreneurial opportunities for women by supporting and sustaining a national network of nearly 150 Women’s Business Centers in every state in the United States and Puerto Rico. WBCs have more than 30 years of success in providing educational training, mentoring, free business counseling, business development, and financing opportunities to over 150,000 women entrepreneurs and small businesses each year. The WBC program is a public-private partnership with the U.S. Business Administration. To learn more about AWBC, visit awbc.org.