Minority female firms outpace all others.

Businesses owned by minority women are growing faster than those owned by men or nonminority women. Women of color are establishing businesses at twice the rate of their male counterparts and more than four times that of nonminority entrepreneurs, reports a new study released by the Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency. Minority female-owned firms grew by 57% between 1997 and 2002, compared with 31% for minority male-owned businesses. Female minority firms grew by 57%, whereas all firms grew by 10%. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women-owned businesses grew the most, at a rate of 84%, followed by African American women entrepreneurs, at 75%.

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