Livelihood NW Begins Official Tenure as the New Oregon Women's Business Center

Livelihood NW, the business support organization for entrepreneurs from marginalized communities across the Northwest, has today announced its official launch as the home of the Oregon Women's Business Center (OWBC), in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The designation enables Livelihood NW to expand its capacity, visibility, and virtual support services to a greater population of diverse small businesses across Oregon. 

This March, Livelihood NW was chosen by the SBA as one of 17 new national Women’s Business Centers. It is the only center of its kind in Oregon. The Women’s Business Center (WBC) Program was established by the SBA to help women overcome barriers to success and there are now WBCs in almost every state. 

“Women’s Business Centers open doors for women entrepreneurs who need access to training and practical assistance to grow their small businesses,” said Christina Hale, assistant administrator, Office of Women’s Business Ownership, U.S. Small Business Administration, in Washington, D.C. “Livelihood NW is the perfect name for an organization that, with the SBA’s assistance, provides economic opportunities to women, their families and the communities they live in.”

Oregon Women's Business Center Ribbon Cutting October 2, 2024. Center: Beto Yarce SBA Regional Administrator, left, and Lara Damon, Livelihood NW Executive Director. (Credit Tais Fedorov tais.photo)

The OWBC designation is awarded across a 5-year term with an annual funding award of $150,000. The additional funding will broaden the statewide expansion of Livelihood NW, strengthen its service offerings, and increase its current staff of twelve by adding two additional full-time equivalent positions.

The official launch is being marked today with a Grand Opening Ceremony in Portland, Oregon attended by SBA officials, small businesses and community members. 

Livelihood NW served over 600 entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds across Oregon in 2023. The OWBC designation now broadens the organization's capacity to serve an additional 200 businesses in Oregon within the first year, scaling to 275 businesses in the second year, and further to 300 businesses annually from years three through five. 

“Livelihood NW was founded with the purpose of fostering business sustainability and growth for historically underserved entrepreneurs within local communities and it is an honor to achieve this designation from the SBA to help us further that vision,” said Lara Damon, executive director, Livelihood NW & OWBC. “As the new Oregon Women’s Business Center, we will empower an even greater number of diverse entrepreneurs in support of wealth creation for themselves, their employees, and their community, driving towards an equitable economy.” 

Livelihood NW provides business development support services to promote lifelong learning, empowerment and positive economic impact. Core offerings include one-on-one advising, long term support, bookkeeping support, workshops and classes and access to capital and markets.