New site helps women business owners

Women 21

The Labor Department and the Small Business Administration have launched a Web site dedicated to women small-business owners.

The site, women-21.gov, aims to help women deal with the ever-changing business climate and gain access to government resources for women.

"No business group in America is moving faster and more efficiently than women-owned businesses," SBA Administrator Hector Barreto said in a statement. "Now, when women entrepreneurs want to stop and ask for directions, that will help them get through the maze of government, they can make one stop and ask at www.women-21.gov."

The site is a product of Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century, a series of summits to discuss the increasing role of women in the economy and the obstacles they face. The site features information on issues such as:

* Access to capital.

* Health care for small businesses.

* Government procurement.

* Retirement security.

* Technology.

Women-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of all U.S. businesses, SBA officials said. The 9.1 million women-owned businesses account for 38 percent of all businesses.