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WBDC Announces Six Finalists for $75,000 Accelerate Grant Pitch Competition at Women-Owned Business Day

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) has announced the six finalists who will compete in the 2026 Accelerate Grant Pitch Competition during its 12th Women-Owned Business Day, taking place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

A featured part of Women-Owned Business Day, the Accelerate Pitch Competition will award three $25,000 grants to women-owned businesses poised for continued growth. Finalists will take the stage to share how the funding would help expand operations, increase capacity, and strengthen their businesses.

The 2026 Accelerate Pitch Competition finalists are:

• Architectural Stone LLC, Rocky Hill
  Owner: Cristy Osgood 
• Fifth State Distillery, Bridgeport
  Owner: Bridget Schulten
• Hound and Home LLC, Newington
  Owner: Kayla Walker
• Norwich Fitness Center, Norwich
  Owner: Luigina Facchini
• Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting LLC, Shelton
  Owner: Dr. Solandy Forte
• Sunset Farm, Naugatuck
  Owner: Kaitlyn Kimball

Photos of the finalists can be found here

Women-Owned Business Day is WBDC’s signature annual event, bringing together women entrepreneurs, business leaders, policymakers, and advocates from across Connecticut for a morning of recognition, connection, and civic engagement. The event highlights the impact of women-owned businesses statewide while providing attendees with opportunities to connect directly with elected officials and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing small businesses today.

The event will be hosted with legislative co-chairs State Senator Patricia Billie Miller, Deputy President Pro Tempore, and State Senator Heather Somers, Senior Deputy Republican Leader. Gilda Bonanno, Principal of Gilda Bonanno LLC, will serve as emcee, and WBDC CEO Fran Pastore will deliver opening remarks. A number of state leaders, including Governor Ned Lamont, have been invited to participate.

In addition to the pitch competition, the program will include remarks from WBDC leadership and a fireside chat on civic engagement between Fran Pastore and Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas.

The event is free to attend, but advanced registration is required.

Women-Owned Business Day 2026 is supported by Champion Sponsors The Cigna Group and Liberty Bank.

About the Women’s Business Development Council

The Women’s Business Development Council’s (WBDC) mission is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut. WBDC educates, motivates, and empowers women to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. Since 1997, WBDC has educated and trained over 22,700 clients across all 169 towns in Connecticut — helping women launch, sustain, and scale over 17,000 businesses, create and maintain more than 42,890 jobs, and access over $90 million in capital. Since 2020, WBDC has provided more than $20.6 million in grants to help fuel growth in small businesses throughout Connecticut. Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.

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