In the annual report of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research
on the status of women in the states, West Virginia ranked 51st in
overall economic autonomy for women. The rating measures and includes
the percent of women’s business ownership, women above poverty
level, college-educated women and women with health insurance. Each
of these issues contributes to women’s lives in distinct, but
interrelated ways. For example, educational attainment relates to
economic autonomy through labor force participation, hours of work,
earnings, childbearing decisions and career advancement.
51st is about as last as we can get.
In his January remarks at the opening of the Women’s Business
Center, David Satterfield, Executive Director of the WV Development
Office, called women a key strategic resource, saying “The participation
of women in the workforce is absolutely key to improving our economic
environment.” Discussing gaps in opportunity and vehicles to
assist women in business, he pointed out “Our resources are
so scarce, we have to nurture those few we have. If we continually
leave out a significant portion of our population, we are doing a
great disservice to the state.”
And yet, he frankly acknowledged there was no help for women from
his office. No plans for a program to support woman owned businesses.
No programs in the works to help women in business. No budget dedicated
to assisting women entrepreneurs. Certainly there was no money for
the Women’s Business Center.
If women are “key to improving our economic environment”
and if, by leaving out this significant portion of our population,
“we are doing a great disservice to the state”, why isn’t
there?
If ever there was a natural resource in West Virginia that actually
should be excavated, mined, harnessed and harvested, the pure economic
power of women is it.
Our economic round tables and development committees stare into an
economic abyss daily, struggling to find some kind of economic foothold
to give our state an edge, or even just an opportunity in the marketplace.
But they just seem to stare right through a resource that is readily
available, abundant and undeveloped.
Over half of the people in this state are women and almost half of
those are in the workforce. But three fourths of them are not in professional
or managerial occupations, and it is almost certainly because less
than 11% of West Virginia women have even four years of college.
Is this a phenomenal waste?
The state could make a critical play for economic security by providing
women with educational and training programs to maximize their earning
potential.
The statistics shared by the Women’s Business Institute, that
6.2 million women- owned businesses in the US are generating $1.15
trillion in sales and employing over nine million workers, should
have our state and local economic leaders in a frenzy to cash in.
But, they aren’t.
Our state is putting a great deal of effort into making itself desirable
site to specialized businesses. That’s important and good, but
how about making West Virginia an attractive state for women to do
business?
What about making our state an environment specifically attractive
for women owned businesses, with the incentives, allowances and tax
advantages considered for enticing out of state industry? If women
are willing to start businesses which generate sales and employment
at twice the rate of men, how about encouraging them to do it here?
If West Virginia’s state and local economic developers are
looking for a serious return on investment, maybe they should be looking
at women instead of through them.
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