NAWBO provides a platform for women business owners to come together as one voice that translates into a formidable economic force and an effective agent for change in the business environment.

Through Congressional testimony, public policy conferences and member education, NAWBO has been at the forefront of advocacy on behalf of women business owners and the issues that impact their companies. Join with NAWBO to represent the interests of the fastest growing segment of the economy.

PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY SECTION

NAWBO was founded in 1975 to open doors for women entrepreneurs by transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers. In the beginning, there were twelve women business owners who met informally in the D.C. area to share information about federal contracts, access to capital and other issues related to their businesses.

We would love to hear from you. To share a story, news, or your commentary about how public policy has affected you and your business, please email to Vice President of Public Policy for NAWBO-SFBA, Laura Hawkins, lhawkins@vonrocklaw.com

New rule will help women-owned businesses get more federal contracts
Federal contracting officials now have the power to award sole-source contracts to women-owned businesses, a tool that should help the government finally achieve its goal of awarding 5 percent of its procurement dollars to women.

As an example of how this can benefit your business, Concord-based women-owned  Hunter Hawk Inc. creates custom manufacturing, engineered vertical pumps and services to industries running 24/7 operations.  In 2005, they bid a 5-year contract for specialty packaging to the DOD/ Redstone Army Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.  Although they were not chosen in the first bid review, they received a call one year later asking if they could hold their original bid price for the remainder of the contact. Shortly afterwards, they were awarded years 2 – 5 of the $6 million contract.

Or consider this story: woman-owned Railroad Cleaners in Pittsburg is one of the preferred cleaning companies for the US Coast Guard in San Francisco. When they decided to expand their operations beyond their store location, they worked with Norcal- PTAC (free service provided through the SBDC) to create a SAM account for government contacting and obtain the preferred certifications.  Soon after, they began getting emails from contracting officers. In the last two years, they have won eight Federal and State Contacts.

If your business would benefit from Government contracts, reach out to the local Norcal PTAC for additional resources

NEWS

Mid-sized businesses urge Congress to block Obamacare's expansion of small group market
Momentum is building in Congress for legislation that would block Obamacare’s expansion of the small group health insurance market to include employers with 51 to 100 employees.

A study by Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting makes a strong argument for keeping the small group market to companies with 50 or fewer employees. It estimates that 64 percent of employers with 51 to 100 workers would see premium increases averaging 18 percent as result of being moved into the small market.

WOMEN ARE AMAZING!
Studies have found that companies with more women on their boards tend to outperform companies with fewer women at the executive level. . . Of course they do! To read more about women’s progress in business and what more needs to be done, check out The White House’s Publication on Expanding Opportunities for Women In Business. It’s a great read!

Would you like to become involved in NAWBO Public Policy and Advocacy?
We have many great local, state and national opportunities for you! Please email lhawkins@vonrocklaw.com to get involved.

SUPPORT: Contact your U.S. Senator - New Legislation: s2693 "The Women's Small Business Ownership Act of 2014" WIPP

SUPPORT: Contact your U.S. Representatives. Federal Government Small Business Contracting Goals for Women Owned Businesses NWBC

Public Policy News and Resources: Find articles and resources with the current debates on public policy, as well as achievements and other resources below:

• NAWBO National Positions
• NAWBO CA Public Policy
• Women Impacting Public Policy WIPP
• CA Small Business Association CSBA
• San Francisco Small Business Network SBN

See Attached List of State Assembly for our area

Calfornia U.S. Senators

California U.S. Congress

If you are interested in getting involved with public policy, please contact, Laura Hawkins, Director of Public Policy.