Women's Business Center to open Monday

A new business center dedicated to helping business women will officially open its doors Monday.
Jaime Friederichs, director of the Missouri Women's Business Center, said Monday's ribbon cutting and open house will be a great opportunity to learn more about the center.
"In addition to the ribbon cutting, we'll have an open house from 4-5:30 p.m.," she said. "We'll have light refreshments, and it will be a chance to see the Women's Business Center space in the Show-Me Innovation Canter and learn about our program."
In addition to the refreshments and learning about the center, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from other county development programs, Friedrichs said.
"Representatives from Central Missouri Community Action's other programs are also coming to the ribbon cutting," she said. "It's a great opportunity to learn about a lot of the other resources the CMCA has. People will be surprised to see how many programs they offer to the county."
Once open, the MWBC will serve as a place to help women receive all the help necessary to start or improve a business, Friedrichs said.
"We are bringing resources to increase economic development opportunities within Callaway County," she said. "We will be able to help increase women ownership and help grow women's businesses. It's good for the entire county."
Tamara Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Callaway County Chamber of Commerce, said the partnership between the chamber and the MWBC will be another resource the chamber can utilize to revitalize the county.
"We are very excited about this partnership," she said. "This is going to do so much with the chamber to add to the one-stop-shop atmosphere we've created. This is a great opportunity for us and we're happy to have them under the same roof."
The plan to have a branch of the MWBC in Callaway County has been in the works since earlier this year, Fitzpatrick said.
"This has been in the works even prior to me coming here," she said. "As soon as Jamie came on board, we were in discussions to have her come to Callaway County."
The opening of the center happened quicker than chamber officials estimated, Fitzpatrick said.
"We had a goal to get them here some time in 2017," she said. "We got them here before 2017. This will be a great resource for the county."
The ribbon cutting and open house will be Monday from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Callaway County Chamber of Commerce building, 510 Market St. in Fulton.