Since 2015, the Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University has been helping transform “visions into ventures,” providing funding, business advisement, and training for more than 1,900 women-owned businesses across Texas to date.

To celebrate its milestone anniversary, CWE hosted an anniversary event on July 8 with a vendor showcase of 40 grant recipients.

Over the last decade, CWE has awarded more than $2.37 million in grant funding to 467 women entrepreneurs across Texas, supporting efforts to launch, grow, and scale businesses in urban centers and rural communities. Among the rich diversity of ventures supported by CWE are a number of intriguing enterprises—such as a pet gift shop, doula service, custom prosthetics designer, and even a mortuary —that collectively showcase the innovation and creativity of women-owned businesses across Texas. 

In addition to funding, CWE has conducted more than 300 training sessions to equip women business owners with the skills, strategies, and resources needed to sustain a successful enterprise. The Center has also received a number of accolades and awards, including the Educate Award (2022) from the Denton Chamber of Commerce, as well as University of the Year (2025), Corporate Supporter of the Year (2024) and BIPOC Corporate Champion awards (2024) from the DEC Network.

Overview of CWE Programs

AccelerateHER
This immersive program fast-tracks early-stage, women-owned startups into scalable businesses. Six entrepreneurs are selected to participate in each cohort, gaining access to expert-led education and resources through CWE and its statewide partners.

To date, the rotating program has served women-owned businesses in Denton, Dallas, Houston, Abilene, Mission, Austin, and Corpus Christi.

Veteran Woman Grant
Designed to boost economic development, this grant supports innovative projects by veteran woman-owned small businesses across Texas.

Texas Rural Woman Grant
This grant empowers rural women entrepreneurs to pursue new ideas and expand business opportunities in underserved communities.

StartHER Grant
Aimed at startups, the StartHER Grant helps women-owned businesses launch innovative new initiatives and build early-stage momentum.

"According to the Office of the Governor, Texas is home to 1.3 million women owned businesses,” said Shannon Mantaro, Executive Director and Chief Officer for the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership.“Clearly, investing in women entrepreneurs is a smart move for our state’s economic development. Over the past decade, CWE has proven that with the right resources and relationships, women will build businesses that thrive. We’re proud of the thousands  of women we’ve partnered with, and we can’t wait to meet the next generation of Texas changemakers. If you’re ready to take your vision to the next level, CWE is ready to help.”

Investing in Visionaries

From Dallas to Houston, from Abilene to Longview, the stories behind CWE grant recipients across Texas are as vibrant and varied as Texas itself. A few examples of recently awarded CWE grants include: Embody Health (Keller), a women’s health clinic offering holistic, compassionate care; Clean Eatz (College Station), a franchise promoting wellness through balanced meals and fitness education; ATX Supper Club (Austin), a dining adventure community creating inclusive connections through beautiful meals; and Rose Soiree (Corpus Christi), a creative floral studio specializing in events and workshops.

Grants awarded prior to 2025 have supported a host of innovative businesses across the state, such as Centro de Consejeria Familiar (Arlington), providing culturally sensitive counseling to Latino families; Copano Oyster Company (Austin), promoting sustainable coastal practices; and Game Theory TX (Fort Worth), a scratch kitchen and board game bar focused on community. Other CWE-supported businesses include boutique storefronts, youth education enterprises, a baby supply vending machine company, and a natural personal care product brand for people with chronic skin conditions.

A Legacy of Leadership

CWE is a flagship program of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University, the nation’s largest woman-focused university system. The Institute’s three centers—the Center for Student Leadership, the Center for Women in Government, and the Center for Women Entrepreneurs—are united by a common mission: preparing women to lead.

Upcoming Funding Opportunity

Applications for the StartHER Grant open August 26 and close September 26. These grants support women-owned startups in launching new initiatives and driving early-stage growth. Other grant programs—including those for veterans and rural entrepreneurs—will open in phases throughout the year.

For full eligibility and deadlines, visit https://twu.edu/center-women-entrepreneurs/grant-dates/.

ABOUT THE JANE NELSON INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

The Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University is dedicated to preparing women for successful careers in business and public service.

Its three specialized centers—Center for Student Leadership, Center for Women Entrepreneurs and Center for Women in Government—ensure women have the education to establish careers as successful executives, the skills for building entrepreneurial businesses and the framework needed to excel in public service.

ABOUT TWU

Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest woman-focused university system with campuses in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Founded in 1901, TWU has built a reputation on contributions in nursing, healthcare, education, the arts and sciences, and business. TWU’s inclusive culture prioritizes experiential learning, leadership, service, discovery, and health and well-being, and national media have recognized the university as a top college for student-parents, veterans, and social mobility. In 2023, TWU publicly launched Dream Big, a fundraising effort that has raised more than $160 million to date to support programming, equipment, scholarships, and faculty. To learn more about the campaign or the university, visit dreambig.twu.eduor twu.edu, or connect with TWU on Facebook @TexasWomansUniversity, Instagram @txwomans, Twitter @txwomans, and LinkedIn @texaswomansuniversity.

 Miller received the honor of Dental Teacher of the Year for the fifth time since he began teaching part-time in 1973in the fixed prosthodontics department at the then-Baylor College of Dentistry, his alma mater. He also earned it in 1992, 2005, 2011 and 2018. Miller remains a constant presence on campus, having taught a wide range of courses, from preclinical to graduate prosthodontics.  

 He currently teaches fixed prosthodontics, operative dentistry and removable prosthodontics in the predoctoral program and is part of the advanced education in general dentistry program and the graduate prosthodontics program. Additionally, Miller serves as the interim assistant department head of comprehensive dentistry.  

 He graduated from dental college in 1973 and earned a prosthodontic certificate in 1980. Miller served as interim chair and later chair of restorative sciences, director of curriculum and briefly as interim associate dean for clinical affairs at various times. 

 Cowen said her path into teaching was rooted in a passion for patient care and a deep respect for the role dental hygienists have in providing education.  

Cowen is an active member of the American Dental Education Association, the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association, the Dental Hygiene Educators of Texas and the Association for Dental Safety. 

Open Palette, the signature restaurant inside the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, invites guests to indulge in bold, locally inspired cuisine during the highly anticipated DFW Restaurant Week 2025. Available for both lunch and dinner, Open Palette’s curated menus blend classic comfort with creative Southwestern flair – perfect for an elevated dining experience in the heart of downtown Dallas. The menus will be available for the entire campaign, from August 4 to August 31.

The $29 lunch menu features crowd-pleasers like warm jalapeño cornbread with goat cheese crumble or queso fundido with chorizo to start, followed by savory main options such as a house-smoked BBQ pork sandwich or a chile relleno with chicken tinga and avocado crema.

For an elevated evening out, the $59 dinner menu offers a three-course journey: begin with fluffy jalapeño cornbread or a refreshing three-bean salad, followed by entrées like house-smoked BBQ chicken with mac & cheese or mussels and clams in a roasted tomato broth. Finish with a decadent coconut flan or tres leches topped with macerated cherries.

Open Palette is a can’t-miss stop this DFW Restaurant Week. Reserve your spots now at OpenTable and experience Dallas dining done right. Complimentary parking is available for up to 4 hours. Please bring your parking ticket and present it to your server for validation.

Open Palette is located at Sheraton Dallas (400 N. Olive Street).

Beat the Texas heat and help local kids – one Blizzard® Treat at a time. On Thursday, July 31, participating DQ® restaurants across the U.S. will celebrate Miracle Treat Day, a special one-day fundraising event supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® in DFW benefitting Children’s Health and Cook Children’s. 

With each Blizzard Treat purchased, $1 or more will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Participating in Miracle Treat Day makes it easy to give back – simply enjoy the iconic sweet treat and help provide critical, lifesaving equipment and pediatric healthcare resources for children across Texas. The Miracle Treat Day annual event at participating DQ locations raises funds and awareness for 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

DQ fans can satisfy their Blizzard Treat craving and support their community when they stop by their local DQ for a delicious Blizzard Treat. The limited-edition 2025 Summer Blizzard Treat menu includes:

●      NEW! Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake Blizzard Treat

●      NEW! Mixing Bowl Mashup Blizzard Treat

●      S’mores Blizzard Treat

●      Cotton Candy Blizzard Treat

●      Confetti Cake Blizzard Treat

This summer also marks a legendary milestone as DQ restaurants celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the iconic Blizzard Treat – the spoonable sensation that redefined frozen desserts in 1985 and has been flipping frowns into smiles ever since. 

For 78 years, DQ restaurants in Texas have been friendly, gathering spots where fans enjoy delicious treats and eats and create fond memories. To be the first to learn about Blizzard of the Month flavors, new product news from the Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council or find a store location, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or visit dqtexas.com.

About Texas Dairy Queen Operators’ Council 

There are few brands as iconic as the DQ brand. Innovative DQ treats and eats, along with the unique DQ restaurant concepts, have positioned DQ restaurants in Texas as a leader in the quick service restaurant industry. The Texas Dairy Queen Operators' Council is a nonprofit organization made up of DQ franchisees operating in Texas. The Council develops the advertising and marketing program for DQ franchisees in Texas and controls the Texas Country Foods menu along with managing supply/distribution for the DQ restaurants in Texas. The DQ restaurants in Texas are franchised by American Dairy Queen Corporation and the DQ franchise system includes approximately 7,000 franchised locations in the United States, Canada, and more than 20 other countries. 

About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded more than 40 years ago with the vision to Change Kids’ Health, Change the Future. We’ve raised over $9 billion for 170 children’s hospitals by empowering and engaging with local communities and businesses – and we’re not done yet. All donations benefit local member hospitals to fund what’s needed most, like critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services. Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and your local member children’s hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.