We WILL be counted!

   In order to participate in federal procurement contracting, a business must be registered on the Federal Government's database, the CCR.   Although there are almost half a million small businesses currently registered on it, less than 60,000 are women-owned businesses.   To get our fair share of contracts, each business woman needs to registered and counted.   It is fast and easy.   The government buys every type of service - so why not participate?

   Why is it so important?

The good news:

1. Women business owners  account for 48% of small businesses in America.   We are recognized as the engine of the American economy, generating $1.9 trillion in annual sales and employing almost 13 million people.

The non-so-good news

1. In 2000 Congress set a goal that 5% of contracts issued should be set aside for women, but so far, almost eight years later, we have not exceeded 3.3%
2. On December 27, 2007, the SBA issued a proposed ruling that stated that women business owners are not under-represented, and do not need the advantage of any contracts that could be set aside.   They based this ruling on the fact that 55,000 women were registered on the CCR..
3. The government awards more than $400 BILLION in contracts each year, and women business owners get ONLY $11 billion of that money.

These sad statistics will not change unless we are counted - and to be counted - each of us must register on the CCR.   WIPP is launching a major campaign to get every business woman registered.   Join us.   Get more information by calling 1-888-488-WIPP, or email us at ccr@wipp.org.