WBDC’s Equity Match Grant Program awards an additional $400,000 in grants to local women-owned businesses

WBDC’s Equity Match Grant Program awards an additional $400,000 in grants to local women-owned businesses

Connecticut Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and WBDC Founder Fran Pastore will visit awardees throughout May and June.

MAY 3, 2021 (STATEWIDE, CT) The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is awarding nearly $400,000 in grants to women-owned businesses in Connecticut. These grants are the second round of awards through WBDC’s Equity Match Grant Program, an initiative that has already aided 56 local businesses since December 2020.

The Equity Match Grant program was created in response to the economic challenges onset by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its focus is to help businesses disproportionately affected by the pandemic, especially those owned by minority women, enabling them to invest in their business to achieve growth.

To honor the initiative and innovation of these women entrepreneurs, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and WBDC Founder and CEO Fran Pastore will travel to all of Connecticut’s eight counties, visiting grant recipient businesses. The Equity Match Road Trip is set to launch early May.

“There’s no doubt that women-owned businesses have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus,” said Lt. Governor Bysiewicz. “Our women entrepreneurs can help us drive economic growth as we continue to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, but only if we give them the opportunity to do so. The opportunity to start and expand their business, the opportunity to improve and build credit, and the opportunity for young women to acquire effective financial and business acumen. The Equity Match Grant Program helps women achieve all of that and so much more. I am so excited to see how these grants will empower women to take their businesses to new heights.”

Pastore said sees the Equity Match Grant Fund as a vital resource to local businesses, not only helping them stay open post-pandemic, but enabling them to establish new, sustainable growth despite economic challenges.

“This Equity Match Grant Program is igniting creativity and innovation, and inspiring business owners to think out of the box,” she shares. “WBDC is proud to offer this direct aid to women-owned businesses to catalyze their growth, whether diversifying a new product line or accessing a new market.”

Visit ctwbdc.org/equity-match-grant-program to learn more about when the next round of grant funding will be announced or contact microgrants@ctwbdc.org.