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Media Contact: JoAnn Gulbin | Marketing & Communications Manager, WBDC | jgulbin@ctwbdc.org | 203-353-1750 Women’s Business Development Council to Announce $300K Investment in Equity Match Grant Program The significant private investment in the Equity Match Grant Program comes as the fourth-round application period opens (Jan. 17) STAMFORD, Conn. — The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is set to announce a significant private investment in its Equity Match Grant Program at a virtual press conference on Tues., Jan. 18 (Zoom link below). The WBDC Equity Match Grant Program was created to catalyze growth for women-owned businesses in Connecticut. The program provides grants between $2,500 and $10,000 to fund clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability. Since December 2020, 98 grants have been awarded, providing $924K to small businesses throughout the state. This includes 42 businesses that were awarded grants in December 2021, as part of the program’s third round. Applications for the fourth round will be accepted from Jan. 17 through Feb. 13, 2022. What: WBDC Equity Match Grant program press conference (virtual) When: Tues., Jan. 18 at 10:00 a.m. Who: • Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz; • Fran Pastore, Founder & CEO, WBDC; • Brenda Thicket, Vice President, Programs & Business Services, WBDC; • Rafia Zahir-Uddin, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; • Jona Jeffcoat, Infinity Music Therapy Services (Grant Recipient) • Kevnesha Boyd, Quality Counseling (Grant Recipient) Where: Zoom (Registration Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vlbrH4ywTOW9NHHl3wsftA) Note: Advance registration required. Press kit and press release will be made available to press conference attendees and distributed shortly thereafter. About the Women’s Business Development Council Since 1997, the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) has educated and trained more than 15,000 clients—helping women to launch and scale over 6,500 businesses, create, and maintain over 8,100 jobs in Connecticut, and access more than $21.3 million in capital. WBDC is the only agency in Connecticut reflective of the statewide demographic makeup offering comprehensive micro-enterprise training, with services ranging from financial education, entrepreneurial development, and access to capital programs. ###