Georgia is tops in growth of women-owned businesses

It's time to brag about yourselves, women entrepreneurs!

It's time to brag about yourselves, women entrepreneurs!

Just over a year ago, Adrienne Brown, was one of 15 entrepreneurs selected participate in a city funded program designed to boost women entrepreneurs.

Today, her company, AJM includes two full-time employees, two interns, more than $138,000 in revenue and office space in the Hurt Building in downtown Atlanta.

“Not only are we now able to provide jobs in the City of Atlanta, but we have also played an integral part in the marketing efforts of major local and national brands like American Family Insurance, African Ancestry and the National Black Arts Festival,” said Brown who offers integrated advertising solutions to businesses, brands and individuals.

Brown is one of more than a half million women business owners across the state of Georgia who have helped push the state to the very top in terms of growth for women-owned businesses.

Over the past 20 years, Georgia has had the highest rate of growth in women-owned firms than any other state in the country.

There are an estimated 502,300 women-owned businesses across Georgia, an increase of 245 percent since 1997, according to data from the seventh annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express OPEN.

Women-owned businesses in the state currently employ 272,800 workers and generate more than 52 billion in earnings.

Atlanta ranks seventh among the top 50 metro areas for growth in the number of woman owned businesses.

Here is a detailed look at how women like Brown and others have helped changed the landscape of business in Atlanta over the past two decades:

ajc.com

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