Strong women.
Strong infrastructure.
Stronger communities.
About Women First
Women First is a leading advocate for the protection and expansion of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.
We have been championing women-owned small businesses in the construction industry since 1987.
Our members are partners to their cities and states – they are economic drivers and job creators that make communities better.
We empower women entrepreneurs across all 50 states.
We advocate for federal support to help remedy past and present discrimination.
Help Save the DBE Program
Protecting the DBE program means protecting small, independent American businesses — and the local economies they keep alive. But without Congressional reauthorization in the 2026 Highway Bill, the continuation of this vital program will be at serious risk, along with jobs for half a million workers.
News
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GBEF Wins Temporary Injunction in Landmark Litigation for Business Owners in Texas
A Travis County District Court today granted a temporary injunction blocking Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s recent changes to the state’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, ruling that the executive branch…
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Court Ruling Curtails Administration’s Ability to Terminate Grants Based on New Priorities
On March 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois decided that federal grantees can challenge grant terminations by the Administration if at the time of…
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A Push to ‘Level the Playing Field’ Threatens Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
Vicki Volponi, who sells construction supplies near Charleston, South Carolina, was in a good groove for most of last year. She was on track to book nearly $10 million in…