Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers Offer Testimony to U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee on Challenges Facing Women Small Business Owners:

"There's both good and bad news for women looking to start and grow small businesses, according to testimony given by the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) today before the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee in a hearing held in Bryn Mawr, Pa. The hearing led by Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez (NY-12) and Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) focused on the specific issues and challenges women business owners face.

The good news is that women-owned businesses have seen tremendous growth in recent years, accounting for the largest percentage of new businesses formed, said Donetta D'Innocenzo, Pennsylvania SBDC Advocacy and Resource Development Board co-chair.

The bad news is many ventures -- both male and female-owned -- remain in jeopardy, due to lack of essential business skills and available training needed to prepare them to run successful businesses. The struggles of maintaining profitable sales are further complicated with policy issues facing small businesses across Pennsylvania: affordable health insurance, rising energy costs, and increasing issues with taxes, lawsuits, workers compensation and regulations. The concern of foregoing health insurance alone can deter a prospective entrepreneur fr"