Businesses owned by women are on the rise in our country.

Economists and academics both agree that women entrepreneurs are the under-tapped key to our growing economy.According to the 2012 U.S. Census, women own 36 percent of all businesses, a jump of over 30 percent since 2007.For the first time in 2015, female-owned businesses reached the 5 percent goal of awarded government contracts. This accounted for 17.8 billion of all small business eligible government contracts going to women entrepreneurs.Women bring a whole new dimension of thought and creativity to creating and managing their own business. They are problem solvers and are efficient in multitasking.Women are adept at finding a marketplace they can fill with their talents or services. However, they face many challenges in running their own businesses that their male counterparts do not. From finding capital funding to start up their businesses, to managing customers, employees, staying creative and engaged in the daily activities and challenges, and most times still finding time to manage their own family's life. It can sometimes be very overwhelming.Tamaqua is also experiencing this boom in female entrepreneurs. There are women running their own storefront businesses, salons, cleaning service business, home demonstrators medical and dental practices, lawyers, accountants, restaurants the list goes on and on.Jody Kellner of Tink's antiques recently hosted a Ladies Night Out in her store for women and featured many of these female entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses and talents. Some of the talents featured were Cheryl Leone of Momma C's bakery; Linda Yulanavage of Sweet Treats; Amy Mogish, local artist and crafter; and Heather Wenzel, jewelry designer. They had a great turnout and it was well-received.The list is ever growing of female start-ups in our community.The Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce has an ever-growing network of women entrepreneurs. Some of members include: Lucy Murphy, accountant; Dr. Lisa Banning and Dr. Joanne Calabrese; Ann Marie Calabrese of Coolbreeze Imaging; Shirley Tirpak of Creative Changes for the Arts and Humanities; Manda Smar of Manda Jean Photography; Marion Fetterman, massage therapist; Kim Noel, Spectrum Consultants; Aimee Dotson of Pamcakes; Liz Leiby of Leiby's Farm Market; Jill Paea and LuAnn Bachert of East End Market; Tammy Swinburne of Charlotte Solt Realty; Katie Kropp of Companion Animal Hospital; and myself, Ann Ostergaard of Heisler's Cloverleaf Dairy Bar just to name a few.We applaud your strength, creativity and hard work and your influence on our growing communities' economy.We would like to see this network of female business owners continue to grow in our community. We are here to support and provide guidance to anyone thinking about starting your own business. You will join a growing list of great women branching out and doing something on their own.So ladies, go out and create your own kingdom and appoint yourself queen. Or if you are already managing your own realm, consider joining the chamber to help in promoting your own business and increase your network capabilities.For more information on joining the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce call Vanessa Gerhard at 570-668-1880.