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Be Local by supporting women in business

By Frances Borsodi Zajac, For The Greene County Messenger 4 min read

Women’s History Month is a time to recognize the achievements women make throughout the nation, including their contributions as business owners.

Be Local means supporting these businesses that are important to area communities, offering products and services, employment and leadership.

“They have the energy and commitment not only to have their businesses succeed and prosper but also to volunteer and help out organizations that strive to help the community in many ways,” said Dorothy Gruskowski, president of Masontown Business and Professional Women.

The Small Business Development Centers reports that women-owned businesses are increasing in number, range, diversity and earning power.

“As of 2014, more than 9.1 million firms were owned by women, employing an additional 7.9 million people and generating 1.4 trillion dollars in sales. Women-owned firms account for 30 percent of all privately held firms and contribute 14 percent of employment and 11 percent of revenues,” SBDC, a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 18 universities and colleges across the commonwealth, including St. Vincent College in Latrobe and the University of Pittsburgh, reports on its website.

SBDC observed, “As women business owners expand their companies, they become increasingly important to the local, regional and national economies.”

Local chambers of commerce witness the significance reflected in their communities.

“Women in business is a growing trend, and I see it throughout our membership at the Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce. A large percent of our small business owners are women, owning and operating cafes, boutiques, antique shops, salons, insurance companies and even car dealerships, to name a few,” said Gina Lynn, executive director.

“They contribute to our communities through tax revenue and support of so many nonprofit organizations through donations. The women business owners lend a savvy business perspective. They are very supportive of each other and bring to the table multi-tasking skills that many have embraced during years of managing households and raising families, that they now parlay to business ownership.”

“We have many local small business owners who are women,” said Brooke Deason, manager of the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce.

“Owning a small business can provide flexibility, allowing women to balance both career and family. Ironically, just today I found an old file in my computer from my predecessor that listed locally owned or managed businesses in Connellsville. The file is from 2001 and lists four pages of businesses fitting the criteria. Some of these businesses are no longer in existence and others are still going strong, while many new ones could be added to the list.”

Debra Keefer, executive director of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, said, “We have women in traditional men’s industry like Josie Pelzer of Rotolo Motors, a Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep dealership in Charleroi and Diane Roberts of Roberts Auto Body. On the retail side, there’s Daneen Troup at Prima Diva Boutique in Charleroi. She used to work at the chamber and used resources for small businesses to access and she worked incredibly hard. There are our restaurants.

“The River House Café is co-owned by Lori Coury and her husband, Mike, and it’s an anchor in our business district. And in North Belle Vernon, Diann Donaldson has a successful merchant services company, Reliance Business Solutions, and started a boutique, Jazzy Boutique, that’s quite popular and needed in our area.”

Noting the formula is hard work and passion, Keefer said, “Women business owners are crucial to our chamber’s success. We have so many. We’re very proud of them.”

Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Ted Flowers at 724-425-7231 or by email at tflowers@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 W. High St., Waynesburg.

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