Director’s Message: Celebrating Women-Owned Businesses

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) recognizes the many women-owned businesses here in our community. We celebrate the accomplishments of women and women-owned businesses, and I am excited to share their stories of doing business right here in Tallahassee-Leon County. I love what Barbara Wescott, Founder of Women Wednesdays, declares at the end of her meetings: “Let’s make  Tallahassee as the number one place for women business owners!”  At last count, just under 40% of entrepreneurs in our community were women. That is an amazing statistic and I look forward to seeing that percentage continue to rise.

For example, I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Impact Food Services, founded by Sha’Ron James. The self-service micro grocery kiosk with healthy food options is the first of its kind in Tallahassee and is a needed source in our community. This business venture also addresses food insecurity and access issues by donating excess foods to families in need. I look forward to the success of this social impact start-up. 

I would also like to congratulate Gloria Pugh, AMWAT Moving Warehousing Storage owner, and Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) Citizen Advisory Committee Vice-Chair, for being elected president of the Professional Movers Association of Florida, the first woman president in the association’s 42-year history.

Women and women-owned businesses are making a huge impact in the community. Let’s keep investing in them. If you’re a women-owned business in Tallahassee-Leon County that would like to be featured on our social media pages this month for Women’s History Month, please email our office at info@oevforbusiness.org. 

Remember to Love Your Local and Stay Healthy Tallahassee,

Cristina Paredes, Director