Chante Newcomb is on a mission to empower women.
The Red Bank salon owner began her "Empowering Women" project earlier this year as a way to help women in the area who are looking for work. For several months, she's offered free haircuts at her salon, Ego Salon, to women transitioning between jobs.
Now, she's ready to take the project to a higher level by getting female-owned businesses in Chattanooga involved.
"So many women right now are unemployed, that's why I think it's so important," Newcomb said. "And being a small-business owner, too, I think a lot of women who have lost their jobs are thinking about opening small businesses."
Newcomb is planning to hold a networking event at her salon next month for local female business owners and job seekers to meet one another. The free event will feature four local vendors selling skin care, makeup, jewelry and clothing items, and is meant to serve as an opportunity to bring together local people, she said.
Lynn Helwig, a local counselor and life coach who has been helping with the event, said the project is important because it's getting people connected.
"The businesses owned by women in the area, you don't hear a lot about them," Helwig said. "And a lot of them don't know each other. Unless you're part of the Chamber of Commerce, sometimes you don't hear about other small businesses owned by women."
Helwig said she hopes next month's event raises awareness for female entrepreneurs in the area, and helps those looking for jobs get a jump start through networking.
"We really wanted to help women in general," she said. "We're helping other women have their businesses highlighted, helping them network and for people to realize there are a lot of women entrepreneurs in Chattanooga."