The Central Indiana Women’s Business Center, a program of the Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative, has been named the 2025 Women’s Business Center of Excellence by the Indiana District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
This national recognition highlights the organization’s significant contributions to job creation, access to capital and support for women entrepreneurs throughout Central Indiana.
In 2024, the center conducted nearly 2,000 one-on-one counseling sessions, supported the creation or retention of over 1,700 jobs and facilitated more than $1.3 million in capital infusions. Additionally, it hosted 33 training sessions and events, reaching over 1,200 attendees and expanding its impact among emerging and established women entrepreneurs.
Stephanie James, director of the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center, expressed gratitude for the honor.
“Being recognized as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center of Excellence is an incredible honor that reflects the strength, resilience and determination of the entrepreneurs we serve,” James said. “This recognition affirms the impact of our work and fuels our commitment to creating even more opportunities to empower women to succeed in business.”
The award will be formally presented during the National Small Business Week celebrations, where the center will be recognized as a model of excellence among more than 150 Women’s Business Centers across the nation. The organization also received the Great Lakes Region’s Women’s Business Center of the Year award, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Stacey Poynter, Indiana District Director of the Small Business Administration, praised the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center for its impact.
“SBA Resource Partners are a critical asset for small businesses in the SBA entrepreneurial ecosystem,” she said. “They are in your neighborhood and provide free one-on-one counseling, mentorship and expertise that you need at all stages of your small business ownership journey. The Central Indiana Women’s Business Center team embodies what it means to be an excellent resource, and they are well-deserving of this award.”
The center is one of two SBA-designated Women’s Business Centers in Indiana and part of a national network focused on leveling the playing field for women in business. Its work is supported by a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration and funding from the Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative.
For more information about the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center and its services, visit indychamber.com/ciwbc.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
