While any entrepreneur, male or female, faces a number of challenges when starting a business, women in particular are forced to overcome their own unique set of obstacles on the path to business ownership.

Research has found that overcoming these challenges isn’t always easy. In the fourth annual American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses report, released in March 2014, Iowa remained at the bottom when it comes to women-owned businesses. The state is ranked 49th in growth of the number of women-owned businesses and 51st in overall economic clout. Economic clout is based on growth in the number of businesses, the revenues of those business and the number of people those businesses employed during 1997-2014.

Two years ago, Iowa was ranked 50th and 51st, respectively, in the same study.

As I research and conduct interviews for an upcoming issue of the Business Record, I am discovering different ways organizations are using specialized forms of education to foster and grow future women business owners.

But is it enough? And what more can be done?

For possible inclusion in this story, I want to gauge the feelings of Lift IOWA readers when it comes to statewide efforts to move the needle in women business ownership. What challenges remain, and which challenges are most prevalent? Are statewide efforts making a difference?

TAKE THE SURVEY >>>