Center for Women Entrepreneurs to offer new round of innovation grants

Sept. 7, 2022 — DENTON — Women-owned businesses in Texas can apply for a new round of StartHER Grants beginning Sept. 22. Texas Woman’s University’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) began the grant program to encourage women business owners — current or aspiring — to take on new and innovative projects. Grant winners will be announced Nov. 1.

Twenty-five grants, each worth $5,000, will be awarded in the latest round, which marks the CWE’s sixth cycle of StartHER grant awards. The grants are open to women entrepreneurs throughout Texas. More than 300 applications were received for the program in 2021.

“These grants can be game-changers for entrepreneurs and can help put their businesses on a more solid path to success,” said Tracy Irby, director of the Center for Women Entrepreneurs. “We are excited to continue awarding these potentially transformational grants.”

Grant funding may be used for the purchase of machinery, equipment or technology; acquisition of new inventory or raw materials; purchase and installation of fixtures or display units; property improvements; marketing; or other business-related activity that is aligned with the purpose of the program. Grants can’t be used to pay wages, salaries and sales tax.

Awardees must complete a virtual small business training course in November hosted by the CWE to receive funding. The course will cover topics such as business plan development, marketing, legal issues and accounting and financing.

Businesses wishing to apply for the StartHER grant must submit a completed online application before 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. For more information, FAQs and to apply, visit twu.edu/center-women-entrepreneurs/starther/. Grant-related questions can be sent to CWEgrants@twu.edu.

The CWE is a program of TWU’s Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. The institute is dedicated to preparing more women to take on successful roles in business and public service. Its three specialized centers — Center for Student Leadership, Center for Women Entrepreneurs and Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy — ensure women have the education to establish careers as successful C-suite executives, the skills for building entrepreneurial businesses and the framework needed to run for public office.