Benesch Partners with the Ohio Women’s Coalition

Benesch is pleased to announce its partnership with the newly formed Ohio Women’s Coalition (OWC). The OWC is a diverse, non-partisan alliance of women in business, women leaders, women business owners, and men that support the mission across Ohio who are coming together to improve the economic position for all women in our state. In addition, Benesch is proud to share that Benesch’s Government Relations Manager, Rachel Winder is serving as the OWC’s Founding Executive Director and Benesch’s Government Relations Assistant, Cheryl Burchard is serving as the OWC’s Associate Director.

Current members of the OWC include the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio; the National Association of Women Business Owners – Cleveland Chapter; The Ohio Women’s Business Center (ECDI); the Central Ohio African-American Chamber of Commerce; Thrive Ohio; SCORE, and many other organizations and dynamic women-business owners.

“Businesses around Ohio were all hit hard this past year, but women-owned businesses suffered exponentially,” said Tiffany Hollinger, chairwoman of the OWC. “Issues such as child care, home schooling and health concerns, just to name a few, typically fall to women.”

According to a recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the number of female business owners who ranked their business’s overall health as “somewhat or very good” fell 13 points during the pandemic, from 60% in January to 47% in July 2020. By contrast, the number of male business owners reporting a “good” business health status only fell five points in the same period (67% to 62%).

Winder said, “Our goal is to support all women throughout Ohio to achieve financial security. Building wealth is integral to women’s economic security, good health, and overall well-being. We want women to weather unexpected economic hardships and be provided with resources that allow them to have proactive control over their lives.”

Virtually all of the economic gains experienced by the typical middle-class family since 1970 have been due to increases in women’s earnings. From 1970 to 2013, women’s increased labor force participation and increased earnings grew the U.S. economy by 13.5 percent, which translates into an additional $2 trillion in economic activity. Women, and mothers in particular, make up a significant proportion of the labor force, and their employment and wages are vital to the overall health of the labor market and the U.S. economy.

The OWC is currently working to protect a $10 million commitment from Governor DeWine in the pending state budget for a historic women-owned business loan program. 

“This program will help so many women entrepreneurs. These resources will have a vital impact on the economic well being of our state. Investing in women-owned business is investing in Ohio,” Winder added.

To learn more about how to get involved with the Ohio Women’s Coalition, please visit www.ohiowomenscoalition.org.