SBA urged to shut down, debar Alabama Women's Biz Centers

     The Small Business Administration's Inspector General has urged the agency to take “prompt corrective action” against two Women's Business Centers in Alabama that were found to be closed for at least three months while continuing to receive taxpayer funds.

      The IG, in a management advisory report dated Sept. 19, recommended actions including termination, suspension and potential debarment.

      The two centers, located in Mobile and Brewton, were run by the Women's Business Center Inc., renamed as the Women's Business Alliance in 2014.

      The two centers received $262,500 from the SBA in fiscal 2018 to provide counseling and training primarily to women entrepreneurs. During the last quarter of that fiscal year, the centers reportedly were closed and not providing services, the auditors wrote...more....