October Is "National Women’s Small Business Month!"

WEOP kicked off the month with a dynamic State of the City Support event, conducted in partnership with Atlanta City Council President Marci Collier Overstreet. With more than 200 women in attendance, the energy in the room was a powerful reminder of what happens when women come together to learn, connect, and support one another. As we enter National Small Business Month, we carry that momentum forward to build a community where women rise, lead, and grow together.

OCTOBER EVENTS

A Public Event

Join us for a special workshop led by Dr. Octavia Conner, "Say Yes to Profits" an award‑winning Virtual CFO, financial and tax strategist, speaker, and best‑selling author. Dr. Conner is known for helping CEOs turn revenue into consistent profit and long‑term financial freedom.

*Enjoy a wine sip and heavy hors d’oeuvres

WEOP EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
State of City Support - October 1, 2026

WEOP was honored to partner with Atlanta City Council President Marci Collier Overstreet to welcome more than 200 women to Atlanta City Hall for a powerful day of conversations and connections. We thank our speakers for their insightful contributions and Council President Overstreet for hosting us and creating a space for women to connect.

During the event, WEOP presented her with the Marci Collier Overstreet Elevate Women’s Business Award, a new annual recognition celebrating women who lead with impact and advance opportunities for others.

A special thanks to WEOP board, members,volunteers and City of Atlanta staff, thank you for showing up and bringing your energy to the room. For those who could not attend, stay tuned we will be sharing a Briefing Report with key insights and findings from the day. Click here for photos and the event recap →

AI Builder Lab: Turning Ideas Into Productivity. The AI Builder Lab brought business owners together for a hands‑on session exploring ways to integrate AI tools, agents, and automated business workflows. A special thanks to Elayne Jones, Microsoft, Natina Marie Hill, AI STEAM Lab and Collette Brown, Georgia Banking Company for hosting the event. Stay tuned for upcoming AI Builder Labs → TBA

Join Today

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION: MEET A FEW WEOP MEMBERS

Dr. Priya Sarathy

Meet Priya Sarathy, PhD, founder and CEO of Wheel Data Strategies, she is also the author of “AI Leadership Compass, a book about artificial Intelligence. Priya brings a passion for sharing knowledge and helping business leaders make sense of data and artificial intelligence. Website

Attorney Deborah Stewart

Attorney Deborah Stewart, The Stewart Law Practice, has been practicing law since 2010, primarily in the areas of business law, estate planning and probate. While she has successfully litigated both business and probate matters, she mostly focuses her time on transactional matters Website

WEOP NETWORK APP: WHERE WOMEN CONNECT

SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER

BLOC Master Class Continues

November 2026

1:00 – 3:00 pm

The Building a Legacy of Ownership & Community (BLOC) program empowers women to become developers, build and own assets, and understand economic development as a pathway to long‑term wealth and opportunity. This year’s cohort engaged with powerhouse women who have developed property, provided capital, and built million‑dollar enterprises offering firsthand insight into what is possible when women lead in ownership and community development. As we close out the series, our final session will reflect on progress and gather feedback to shape the next phase of growth in 2027. WEOP Members interested in learning more about BLOC are welcome to join us and connect with the cohort.

***For WEOP Members Only

GRANTS & RESOURCES $$$

Entreprenista’s Evolve Grant - $5,000 quarterly grant supports women founders like you with funding for their next phase of growth. CLICK HERE

WomensNet gives away at least $30,000 every month in Amber Grant money. In recognition of the diversity of businesses owned by women, also expanded grant-giving includes “Startup Grants,” Quarterly awards. $15 application fee. CLICK HERE

National Science Foundation the “American Seed Fund – a federal agency that funds startups across nearly all technology areas and markets like artificial intelligence, energy, medical devices, robotics, semiconductors, and many more. CLICK HERE

Galaxy Grant - Apply for a chance to win our $2,500 Galaxy Grant, brought to you by Hidden Star, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that has been supporting women & minority business owners for over 9 years. CLICK HERE

Small Business Improvement Grants - Small businesses and property owners in seven City of Atlanta Tax Allocation District (TADs) can apply for grants of up to $50,000 for interior and exterior improvements. Tax AllocationDistricts (TADs) - Campbellton Road, Hollowell-ML King, Metropolitan Parkway, Perry Bolton, Eastside, Westside and Stadium Neighborhoods. CLICK HERE

The Shophand $5k Small Business Boost Grant is awarded twice a year to give small business owners the support they need to overcome their biggest tech or operational challenge. Deadline Nov. 30. CLICK HERE

Invest Atlanta provides a variety of loans for small businesses to include the Atlanta Business Readiness Loan (ABRL) and Atlanta Startup Growth Program for additional loan programs. CLICK HERE

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Disclaimer: WEOP shares external links, grant resources and third party information for informational purposes only. We do not endorse or guarantee third party programs or websites. Readers should review all opportunities and information to determine what is imost appropriate for your individual and business needs.