Developing Views 2026 – Vol. 6

This week’s blog is going to briefly touch on a handful of subjects relevant to local businesses, and in particular for this first item – WOBs or Woman Owned Businesses. Newtown has hundreds of businesses large and small that are owned or led by women.

So, if you are part of a WOB or own one yourself, I hope you’ll consider representing Newtown on Wednesday, April 8 as Connecticut’s Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) returns to the State Capital for “Women-Owned Business Day 2026.” The event runs from 9 am to 1 pm and activities are concentrated in the neighboring Legislative Office Building.

With the theme “Expanding Opportunity, Realizing Possibility,” WBDC’s Women-Owned Business Day is a unique opportunity for Connecticut’s women entrepreneurs and state legislators to connect and share thoughts and ideas about the issues that impact Connecticut’s small women-owned businesses each and every day.

Join WBDC, legislative hosts including event Co-chairs State Senators Patricia Billy Miller and Heather Somers, and Connecticut-based entrepreneurs to connect and celebrate the real impact women-owned businesses have had on Connecticut’s economy, our communities, and our families.

To register to attend – and for additional details, CLICK HERE

…To Your Health!

Since providing health insurance coverage is just good business, even for smaller companies that are hard-pressed to afford providing it for their owners and staffers, our partners in mentoring at SCORE are hosting a FREE, one-hour webinar at 1 pm on Thursday, February 26 entitled: “Health Insurance 101 for Small Business Owners and Startups.”

Navigating health insurance as a solopreneur or small business owner can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re exploring coverage for yourself or considering benefits for your first employees, understanding your options can help you make smarter, more confident decisions.

In this webinar, our expert presenters will break down everything you need to know about health insurance as a small business. You’ll learn how to compare coverage types, understand key terms, and find trusted brokers or agents who can guide you through the process so you can focus on running your business with clarity and confidence.

You’ll learn how to:

• Understand the benefits of offering health insurance to employees
• Compare common types of coverage and what they mean for your business
• Navigate the health insurance marketplace with confidence
• Identify reputable brokers or agents to help you choose a plan
• Decode key health insurance terms and concepts

To learn more and register – CLICK HERE

American Made

Newtown is also home to a number of manufacturing companies of various sizes, including a few that have a global presence. So, I was pleased to see that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a month-long series of free, three-part online events focusing on the “Made In America” movement.

SBA is leading a task force that is laser focused on growing American-based manufacturers. The Made in America Manufacturing Initiative commits to a deeper collaboration and coordination of federal agency resources designed to:

• Cutting red tape for small manufacturers
• Increasing access to capital
• Finding onshoring resources
• Taking your manufacturing business global

It all begins March 12 at 10 am with Workshop I: Made In America Onshoring-Tools, where SBA will introduce “Made in America Manufacturing Initiatives,” U.S. Manufacturing statistics, and SBA’s Onshoring Portal that helps connect businesses with verified U.S. manufacturers, producers, and suppliers.

The second part on March 17 at 10 am will cover various SBA working capital loan programs to help manufacturers to gain access to capital including 7(a) Manufacturers’ Access to Revolving Credit (MARC).

And the series concludes at 10 am on March 19 introducing SBA’s Resource Partner- Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) – which we have already touted in a prior Developing Views – and its export counseling and technical assistance to help small manufacturers grow and open new international markets.

Find more information on registering for free for these and loads of other informative activities to help support and grow your business by CLICKING HERE

I hope these referrals are helpful – check back soon and check out our next Developing Views!

Submitted by Newtown ECD Director John Voket