KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Kingsport Chamber of Commerce Foundation will launch a center to support women entrepreneurs thanks to a federal grant.
The grant, funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women Employers, will support the launch of the Appalachian Highlands Women’s Business Center. Kingsport is one of 17 cities nationwide to receive this grant.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Appalachian Highlands Women’s Business Center here in Kingsport, Tennessee,” said Ted Fields, chairman and executive vice president of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. “This center is an important new business entrepreneurship program hosted by the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce.” release.
The Women’s Business Center provides training and counseling to women entrepreneurs, helps clients secure federal contracts, and helps ensure access to credit.
Aundrea Salyer, who heads the Kingsport Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) at the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, told News Channel 11 that she has already helped launch dozens of women’s businesses and that He said he was eager to start the center.
“I have always been passionate about supporting women business owners in particular,” Salyer said. “That’s what I talked about in a job interview 18 years ago. So this is a big moment for all the women who can be part of this program.”
Jess Williams, executive director of Bellafina Chocolates, told News Channel 11 that the center will be a “huge resource” for people like her.
Although Ballerinas is a nonprofit organization, Williams said it relies on retail chocolate sales to support its mission of empowering women and children and faces many of the same challenges as a business.
“To have someone in my corner, someone who already has that knowledge, someone who can sit with me and listen to my troubles and quickly make connections to things I never thought of. I hope you know about it, it just gives you extra energy to know it exists,” Williams said.
Chamber officials said they hope that by empowering women, they can also contribute to the local community.
“The latest trends show that women business owners are putting more money into their household finances than ever before,” Thaler said.
Bellafina’s Williams agrees.
“That’s what I love so much about it,” Williams said. “I’ve seen how investing in women changes communities.”
Salyer said the chamber is working to hire a director before the Women’s Business Center officially opens.
“For this to be a success, we need to have the funding in place because this is just the beginning,” Salyer said.
