Utah's Women Entrepreneurs Are Driving a $14 Billion Economic Boom – Here's How You Can Help

From Humble Beginnings to Business Success

Mary Craft's journey into entrepreneurship started small. "I thought only about survival, and how I can feed my children and how I can be off welfare," Craft recalled. "This is my wagon story, around my neighborhood with two little babies in it, selling cookies and bread to my neighborhood." From those modest origins, her business, Culinary Crafts, has grown into one of the largest catering companies in Utah.

"Once I moved past survival, I realized the skill set that I was developing and all the possibilities that were open, and eventually, then I ran my company as CEO for 35 years," Craft said.

Celebrating Women's Entrepreneurship in Utah

Her story was one of many highlighted during the celebration of National Women's Entrepreneurship Day at the Salt Lake Chamber. The Women's Business Center of Utah launched a statewide proclamation, urging businesses, individuals, and government entities to commit to 10 specific actions within one year to support women-owned businesses.

"We're here today to officially recognize the incredible value of women-owned businesses," stated Anna Marie Wallace, director at the Women's Business Center of Utah.

The Economic Impact of Women-Owned Businesses

Leaders emphasized that women-owned businesses generate $14 billion in annual revenue and employ over 89,000 Utahns. Susan Madsen, a Utah State faculty member and director of the Utah Women and Leadership Project, highlighted that women now comprise 44% of all small business owners in Utah, up from 31% in 2020. There are nearly 130,000 women-owned businesses in the state, with about 90% reporting no additional employees, a stark contrast to men-owned businesses.

Madsen pointed out challenges such as fair access to financing, mentors, and business training resources. "It's important to note that these are not just hobby businesses," she said. "For most of these women, these businesses are supporting families and paying for housing, food, and other critical costs."

Addressing Economic Challenges and Building Momentum

Laurie Stringham, a County Councilwoman involved with Utah State University's A Bolder Way Forward initiative, discussed current economic pressures. "We're having to deal with a lot of issues and a lot of cuts in government, and those who it impacts most right now are women and children and single parents," Stringham explained. She noted that the county is leveraging existing resources to support the proclamation's goals, comparing the initiative to a steam engine. "By solving problems for one group, we uplift everyone," she affirmed.

Personal Stories of Empowerment and Connection

Angela Brown, publisher and owner of SLUG Magazine and founder of Craft Lake City, shared her experience of feeling "out of place" in Utah and how the magazine helped her find community. After roles as a photographer and music editor, she has run the company for 25 years. Brown highlighted differences in business practices: "It's the way men do business versus the way women do business. And I think it's not that men don't want to support women entrepreneurs, but they don't have access, so they don't know how." She emphasized the need for men to step outside traditional spaces like golf courses to include women.

Brown's mission is to empower people to become creatives and entrepreneurs. One such entrepreneur is 23-year-old Seurette Relyea, an executive assistant at Craft Lake City who started her business, Curio, at age 19. She hand-paints homemade calendars and recently sold 100 units, primarily through Instagram. "I think I'm the youngest one in the room here, but it's really empowering to see a very powerful group of women come together and support each other and uplift the creative business owner community here in Utah," Relyea said.

Action Items from the Proclamation

The proclamation calls for support through specific actions:

• 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.