Investing In Women (iiW) is a free business resource site composed of business resources such as grant, business tools, social media how-to’s, marketing advice, business articles and a variety of resources. About half the content is submitted by members who are business owners. iiW is awarding its first micro-grant of $500.00 to women seeking to open or expand their business in the USA.

According to Founder of iiW, Leah Oviedo, the grant application includes questions like, "How will this grant encourage your business growth?" and, "How will your business improve the economy or the lives of others?" The answers the applicants give will affect Investing In Women's award decision. Applications are available to every adult woman with a valid proof of business ownership in the United States.

"This is our very first grant," says Oviedo. "We plan on eventually having several per year, including some that aren't gender specific."

The grant recipient will be announced November 9th. The grant is funded in part by Oviedo and also through membership dues.

Attribute had the pleasure of interviewing Oviedo about the grant and where the idea for iiW, sprung from:

1) Please describe your background to our readers.

I attended the Art Institute in Denver and studied fashion design. After years of working, I opened my own fashion boutique in 2006. Mercado del Mundo is an online store that features clothing, jewelry, art and books.

2) Where did the idea for Investing in Women come from?

I am from a line of independent women business owners who inspired me to give back. In particular my mother, JoAnne, started a center for abused women when I was a child. I always wanted to follow in her footsteps and do something positive for women. The first 2 years of running my own business I had to research and learn how to run a business the hard way. The idea to start a business resource center that would make this process easier for others and encourage women to be financially independent was something I thought about often. In 2008 I laid the groundwork for Investing In Women and officially opened the site in February of 2009.

3) So many organizations are providing micro-loans to women outside of the US, why did you decide to support women within the US?

There has been such success for micro-grants in other countries as a way to create independence for women. I wanted to do the same in my country. I chose micro grants because a little cash can make a big difference in whether a business will succeed or fail. Just a few hundred dollars can buy advertising, a vendor booth at an event, products or supplies that a business needs to operate. I want to give women a chance to prove that yes they can create a successful and profitable business.

4) What merits were you looking for when choosing your first grant winner?

We looked for a business that would not just create a profit, but would have an affect on the economy and or a community. It was a tough decision, as there were many amazing businesses both established and in the planning stages. One question we asked was "How will your business improve the economy or the lives of others?" The recipient of the 2009 grant will be awarded to a business that will support the economy and if successful will have a ripple effect across the whole United States.

5) How many applicants did you receive (FYI: This is the first grant to be awarded)?

We received 16 applications over a 4-month period. As knowledge of Investing In Women grows, we hope to have over 100 grant applications next year and to offer several micro-grants.

For more information on Investing In Women, visit www.iiWomen.com