An October 2007 study from the National Association of Manufacturers reported that the number of women-owned manufacturing firms has nearly doubled since 1997. And while all manufacturing sales grew by just 8 percent between 1997 and 2004, sales of companies owned by women grew by 38 percent.

Statewide, some 2,500 women own small or mid-sized manufacturing firms, and many in the industry say that number is only growing.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=169295