NORTHSTATE, Calif. — The future of Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), including several located in Northstate, faces uncertainty under the proposed budget of the Trump administration. According to a report from Small Business Majority in May 2025, the fiscal year 2026 budget request presented by President Trump includes plans to discontinue certain programs administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, which could notably impact WBCs.
Supporting Local Entrepreneurs
The WBC at Jedi plays a crucial role in assisting small business owners in realizing their entrepreneurial dreams. Program Director Victoria Rodriguez emphasized the importance of their work, stating, “We help those that maybe can’t get the same resources as other people, and so these are people in rural small towns or even that can’t afford the same things, or people that just don’t know which direction to go in terms of how to start or grow their business.”
Success Stories from the WBC
The center has been influential in the establishment of local initiatives such as Redding Nursery and the nonprofit training center Plantable. Co-founder Donna Hale credited the WBC for providing essential support: “I needed help with the website, I needed help with the business plan… There’s no way I could’ve done it on my own.”
Another co-founder, Kirkwood Hale, shared with KRCR that Plantable’s mission is to offer learning opportunities in horticulture and hospitality, particularly to underserved populations, including those transitioning from homelessness and individuals with developmental disabilities.
A Call for Continued Support
Recently, the Association of Women’s Business Centers reported that 55 members of Congress have endorsed a bipartisan letter advocating for $30 million in funding for the WBC program. JEDI Executive Director Nancy Swift underscored the economic significance of small businesses: “It matters because small businesses are an economic driver. So, we put money into the economy by helping businesses grow. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to raise a business.”
