The GROW Nebraska Women’s Business Center (gnwbc.org) has been recognized as a 2026 graduate of the National WBC of Excellence program offered by the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC).
The primary objective of the National Women’s Business Center of Excellence designation is to recognize organizations that demonstrate commitment and efficacy of the mission, vision, and values of their Women’s Business Center, giving the greatest outcomes for women-owned businesses.
“I am beyond proud of our 2026 Women’s Business Center of Excellence graduates! Their hard work, focus, and passion for serving women entrepreneurs shine through in every aspect of their operations,” says Klassi Duncan, AWBC Board Chair and Vice President of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at the Urban League of Louisiana. “Their dedication to excellence will continue to uplift and accelerate the success of women-owned businesses nationwide.”
Through six milestone assignments, participating Women’s Business Centers partnered with peers in their cohort to identify gaps and opportunities for growth across key areas, including strategic goal-setting, service delivery, continuous improvement, and peer collaboration. The program emphasizes the importance of strong organizational support, recognizing the role of volunteers, leadership, and funders, who are engaged in the final stages of achieving the designation.
“The collaboration, insights, and knowledge gained will be applied meaningfully throughout 2026. Together, as WBCs, we have the opportunity to strengthen this ecosystem into the most valuable resource for entrepreneurs within our communities across the United States,” said Nekola Distefano, Director.
The National WBC of Excellence graduation and closing ceremony took place on Dec. 12, 2025. For more information about WBC resources, please visit (gnwbc.org).