STAMFORD, Conn. — The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) has released its 2024 Impact Report, highlighting record engagement. 3,587 women accessed WBDC’s education, business advising, networking events, and grant programs — a 332% increase since 2019 and 20% growth over 2023 — underscoring both the demand for and the proven efficacy of its services.
Among the achievements highlighted in the latest Impact Report was the renewal of its partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood through June 2027 to continue providing business education, technical assistance, and grants to child‑care entrepreneurs statewide; and the opening of a new WBDC office in downtown Hartford — expanding access to tailored classes, mentoring, and networking designed for women‑owned businesses in the greater Hartford region.
In 2024, WBDC also launched the Accelerate Grant Program, awarding $25,000 grants to qualified women‑owned businesses that had previously received WBDC funding and demonstrated measurable revenue growth as a result. To date, WBDC has awarded $200,000 in Accelerate Grant funds to eight women‑owned businesses across Connecticut, selected by a panel of judges during a pair of live pitch competitions.
Additionally, last August, Governor Ned Lamont’s administration tapped WBDC to administer the DECD Emergency Flood Grant program, recognizing WBDC’s proven track record in efficient, equitable grant program administration. This program distributed more than $5.9 million in emergency funds to 278 businesses across 37 towns, helping those businesses begin rebuilding.
“Over the past three decades, WBDC has proudly cultivated a legacy as a recognized champion of women entrepreneurs in Connecticut,” said WBDC CEO Fran Pastore. “I am proud of the impact we’ve made in Connecticut’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and I look forward to continuing to ensure that women entrepreneurs have the confidence, capital, and connections they need to thrive.”
WBDC Grant Programs
Ignite — The Ignite Grant program provides grants up to $10,000 to women-owned businesses in Connecticut for a clearly-defined investment that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability.
- $816,000+ awarded in 2024
- 37% of recipients are women of color
- $3.6 million awarded since 2020
Accelerate — The Accelerate Grant encourages continued growth in businesses that previously received WBDC grants.
- $100,000 awarded in 2024 to four women-owned businesses
- $200,000 awarded in total (including $100,000 in May 2025)
Launch Pad — The Launch Pad grant helps advance early-stage businesses through grants of $2,500 to start-up businesses whose owners have completed one of WBDC’s multi-session business planning courses.
- Awarded $190,000 in funding to 76 start-up businesses in 2024
- Awarded $377,500 in funding to 151 start-up businesses since 2022
Child Care Business Support Program — Launched in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, the WBDC Child Care Business Support Program provides critical entrepreneurial education and resources to Connecticut’s early childhood businesses.
- 154 grants totaling $1.7 million were distributed to early childhood businesses
- 2024 child care grant recipients created/maintained 1,572 jobs and 4,080 child care slots
2024 Impact Report — Notable Statistics
- 3,587 clients served — up 20% from 2023 and 332% since 2019.
- WBDC clients accessed $23.6 million in capital, including WBDC grants — a 157% increase from 2023.
- 13,617 hours of education provided through classes and business advising
- 109 new women-owned businesses started — 21% increase from 2023
- 13,304 jobs created or retained by WBDC clients — a 57% increase from 2023
For the full 2024 Impact Report, visit: https://ctwbdc.org/annual-reports/
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 nearly 21,000 clients in all of Connecticut’s 169 towns—helping women to launch, sustain, and scale over 15,730 businesses, create and maintain more than 39,300 jobs in Connecticut, and access almost $80 million in capital. Since 2020, WBDC has provided more than $18 million in grants to help fuel growth in small businesses throughout Connecticut. Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.