OMAHA- According to a newly-released report from OnDeck, an online small business lender, Nebraska is among the lowest-ranked states in female business ownership. Carmen Tapio, who started North End Teleservices, a company that has reported over 1,000% growth over the past three years, stated that this is because women are seen as far riskier to lend to, and often face a gender-based and "sexist" reception when seeking capital to start business ventures.

Utilizing data sourced from the Census Bureau's Annual Business Survey, OnDeck found that only 15.79% percent of businesses within Nebraska are owned by females, with only South Dakota and West Virginia having lower scores. However, Tapio, who also chairs the board of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, said conditions for female ownership are improving in the state. "The climate in Nebraska is changing--or I think, more accurately, wants to change," she said.

According to Josie Schafer, who heads the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Center for Public Affairs Research, these disparities have a wide-ranging effect on the state's economy. "It may send a negative signal to business owners in other states about how included and successful they can be here in Nebraska," said Schafer.

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