Nationwide, employment and revenue of women-owned businesses has more than doubled in the past seven years. In some Southern California metropolitan areas, the gains are even greater. But whatever the reasons, women are rapidly entering into, and advancing through, the world of business owners. As vice president of the San Diego CDC Small Business Finance Corp., Kim Buttermere helps women and minorities obtain business loans. San Diego, she says, is a good market for startups.
Consumers here are open to patronizing small businesses.
She also sees San Diego as an encouraging environment. In addition, San Diego County ranked 11th in the number of women-owned businesses overall. Women have proved they have staying power. The majority of the growth locally is in the nontraditional goods-producing sector, including agribusiness, construction and manufacturing. That is in keeping with national trends.