A new program in Kansas City is aiming to support women in starting and growing small businesses by providing equity, fairness, and equal opportunity. This initiative is designed to help women succeed in entrepreneurship by offering financial support and business consulting services.
Casey and Sloan Simmons, sisters from Kansas City, faced challenges when they tried to open their own retail store 28 years ago. They struggled to secure loans or investments due to their gender, facing discriminatory questions about their personal lives instead of their business plans. Despite these obstacles, they persevered and opened ‘A Store Named Stuff’.
Women-owned businesses make up 39.1% of all businesses in America, growing at a faster rate than those owned by men. However, there are still challenges that women entrepreneurs face in accessing funding and support. H&R Block has launched the ‘Fund Her Future’ program to address these issues by offering grants totaling $100,000 to five female business owners.
Businesses that are majority owned by women can apply for the ‘Fund Her Future’ program, which will provide not only financial investments but also valuable business consulting services. The goal is to help women entrepreneurs thrive and see their businesses succeed by providing the resources they need to grow and expand.
Kansas has been identified as one of the top 10 worst states in America for women to start a business, highlighting the need for programs like ‘Fund Her Future’. The deadline to apply for the program is May 26th, giving women entrepreneurs in Kansas City and beyond the opportunity to access financial support and expert guidance to help them achieve their business goals.