Women’s Entrepreneurial Empowerment – Utah Policy

Report on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Utah and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A recent event celebrating National Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in Salt Lake City highlighted the critical role of women-owned businesses in advancing Utah’s economy and achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Women’s Business Center of Utah introduced a statewide proclamation with a one-year commitment from businesses, government, and individuals to support female entrepreneurs. This initiative directly addresses goals related to gender equality, economic growth, poverty reduction, and strategic partnerships.

Economic Impact and Contribution to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The economic contributions of women-owned businesses in Utah are a significant driver for achieving the objectives of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). These enterprises foster inclusive and sustainable economic development within the state.

• Annual Revenue: Women-owned businesses generate $14 billion in annual revenue.
• Employment: They provide decent work opportunities for over 89,000 Utahns.
• Growth in Ownership: The proportion of small businesses owned by women has risen from 31% in 2020 to 44%, with nearly 130,000 women-owned businesses now in operation.

These figures demonstrate that supporting female entrepreneurship is a vital strategy for achieving robust and sustainable economic growth.

Challenges and Barriers: Addressing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Despite their economic contributions, women entrepreneurs face systemic barriers that impede progress towards SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). According to analysis from the Utah Women and Leadership Project, primary challenges include:

• Inequitable access to financing and capital.
• A deficit of available mentors and professional networks.
• Insufficient awareness of business training programs and resources.

It was noted that current economic pressures disproportionately impact women and children, underscoring the urgency of implementing targeted initiatives that reduce these inequalities and advance women’s economic empowerment. As stated by County Councilwoman Laurie Stringham, “By solving problems for one group, we uplift everyone.”

Case Studies: From Poverty Alleviation (SDG 1) to Economic Empowerment

The experiences of Utah’s female entrepreneurs illustrate the direct impact of business ownership on achieving the SDGs, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8.

1. Mary Craft (Culinary Crafts): Ms. Craft’s entrepreneurial journey began as a direct response to poverty, with the initial goal of providing for her children and moving off welfare. Her enterprise has since evolved into one of the state’s largest catering companies, exemplifying the transition from poverty alleviation to significant economic contribution.
2. Angela Brown (SLUG Magazine): As owner of SLUG Magazine, Ms. Brown has dedicated her work to empowering other creatives and entrepreneurs, fostering an inclusive community that supports diverse economic participation and strengthens local creative economies.
3. Seurette Relyea (Curio): At 23, Ms. Relyea represents a new generation of entrepreneurs whose small business, started at age 19, contributes to a sustainable livelihood and demonstrates the importance of supporting youth entrepreneurship.

These cases confirm that supporting women-owned businesses is a critical tool for ensuring family financial stability and contributing to poverty reduction.

A Proclamation for Action: Fostering Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The one-year statewide proclamation serves as a strategic framework for action, calling for multi-stakeholder collaboration in alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The initiative mobilizes government entities, private businesses, and individuals to create a more supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs through specific, measurable actions.

Proclamation Action Items to Advance Gender Equality in Business:

• Buy from three women-owned businesses.
• Mentor one woman entrepreneur for a minimum of three hours.
• Promote a woman-owned business.
• Sponsor or donate to an organization that supports women entrepreneurs.
• Advocate or implement policies that reduce barriers for women.
• Refer a woman-owned business for a funding opportunity.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on women’s entrepreneurship in Utah connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on economic empowerment, gender equality, poverty reduction, and inclusive economic growth. The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article highlights how entrepreneurship serves as a pathway out of poverty and financial instability for women.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – This is a central theme, as the article discusses the specific challenges women face in business and the initiatives designed to empower them and reduce gender-based barriers.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article details the significant economic contributions of women-owned businesses, including revenue generation and job creation, which are key components of this goal.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By addressing the disparities women entrepreneurs face, such as unequal access to finance and mentorship, the article touches upon the goal of reducing inequalities within the economy.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and initiatives discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 1: No Poverty

• Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty. The story of Mary Craft, who started her business for “survival,” to “feed my children and how I can be off welfare,” directly illustrates entrepreneurship as a tool for poverty reduction. The article also notes that for many women, “these businesses are supporting families and paying for housing, food and other critical costs.”

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The entire article is about promoting women’s participation and leadership in the economic sphere. The celebration of National Women’s Entrepreneurship Day and the rise of women-owned businesses to “44% of all small business owners” are direct examples of progress toward this target.
• Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to… financial services. The article explicitly identifies a lack of “fair access to financing” as a key challenge for women. The proclamation’s call to “refer a woman-owned business for a funding opportunity” is a direct action aimed at achieving this target.
• Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. The “one-year statewide commitment proclamation” introduced by the Women’s Business Center of Utah serves as a policy initiative. One of its action items is to “advocat[e] or implement[] policies that reduce barriers for women,” which directly aligns with this target.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. The article focuses on supporting women entrepreneurs and their businesses, which are primarily small and medium-sized enterprises. The proclamation’s action items, such as mentoring and promotion, are development-oriented policies aimed at fostering the growth of these businesses.
• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men. The article highlights that women-owned businesses “employ more than 89,000 Utahns,” contributing directly to employment. The stories of entrepreneurs like Mary Craft and Angela Brown show women creating their own “decent work” and achieving economic self-sufficiency.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex. The article addresses the economic exclusion and unique challenges women face, such as not being in “those spaces or those places where some of those conversations happen.” The initiatives described, including the proclamation and mentorship programs, are designed to empower and promote the economic inclusion of women entrepreneurs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

Indicators for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Proportion of women in managerial positions (related to Indicator 5.5.2): The article provides a specific metric for this by stating that “women-owned businesses in Utah now comprise 44% of all small business owners, which is an increase from 31% in 2020.” This percentage serves as a direct indicator of women’s leadership in the economy.
• Number of women-owned businesses: The article states there are “nearly 130,000 women-owned businesses in Utah.” Tracking this number over time would measure the growth of female entrepreneurship.
• Economic contribution of women-owned businesses: The article provides two key financial indicators:
  1. Annual revenue generated: “$14 billion in annual revenue.”
  2. Number of jobs created: “employ more than 89,000 Utahns.”

Implied Indicators for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• Access to financial resources: While not quantified, the challenge of “fair access to financing” is noted. Progress could be measured by tracking the number of women-owned businesses referred for funding opportunities, as called for in the proclamation.
• Access to mentorship and support networks: The proclamation calls for mentoring “one woman entrepreneur for a minimum of three hours.” The number of mentorship hours pledged and completed could serve as a direct indicator of increased support for women in business.
• Implementation of supportive policies: The proclamation’s call to “advocat[e] or implement[] policies that reduce barriers for women” implies that tracking the number and type of such policies adopted by government and business entities would be a relevant indicator of progress.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: utahpolicy.com