Two Berkeley businesses have won 2009 Women-Owned Business of the Year Awards in the Alameda County category.
They are Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts bookstore, founded by Marion Abbott and Ann Layhe (pictured above), and BioFuel Oasis, run by Novella Carpenter, Margaret Farrow, Ace Anderson, Melissa Hardy and Jennifer Radtke.
The awards are sponsored by the Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, a microenterprise organization helping low-income women receive critical business training courses, ongoing support, and microloans to start and/or grow their businesses. It has been operating in the Bay Area for more than 20 years.
The awards presentation takes place on November 9 at the Claremont Hotel. Full details on getting hold of tickets can be had here.
And, while we’re on the subject of the wonderful Mrs Dalloway’s, check out its newly expanded store — on the corner of College and Russell: more space for books and a next-door cafe opening soon.
[Photo: www.mrsdalloways.com]
