SBDCs In The News
America’s SBDC Announces Nationwide ‘Inclusivity Challenge’
America’s SBDC has officially launched a nationwide initiative to challenge its state and regional networks to assess their client communities and identify areas where they can expand their reach and foster deeper relationships. Read more.
Iowa SBDC receives national recognition for supporting innovation, entrepreneurship
As businesses closed their doors at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a user-friendly, professional online presence became a lifeline for many to stay afloat. America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa responded to business owners’ needs by developing marketing guides and conducting both in-person and virtual trainings on digital marketing and e-commerce. Read more.
New Hampshire small business owners gaining confidence, but still leery
Financial situations are improving for many New Hampshire small business owners, and they are becoming more optimistic about their prospects for the future – but they’re still not overwhelmingly confident, according to the NH Small Business Development Center’s third and last Business Resiliency Survey. Read more.
Pennsylvania SBDC Welcomes Mark Madrid At Statewide Meeting
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) were honored to welcome Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), to Berks County on Thursday, where he heard firsthand accounts of pandemic-relief programs helping small businesses to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
Arkansas SBTDC Client Wins Funding to Finalize Platform for Traumatic Brain Injury Research
A client of the Arkansas SBTDC, Nanomatronix (NMT), has received a $750,000 Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award through the Department of Defense AFWERX program. The company will use the funding to finalize a brain chip that will allow for improved understanding of traumatic brain injury. Read more.
Investing in our future one business at a time
Columbia Economic Team has a plan for a Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) that will contain a Small Business Development Center, or SBDC. We’ve never had one locally, and while the pandemic exposed that shortfall, pandemic relief funding provides the resources to correct that. Columbia Economic Team has approached each of our city and county leaders to commit American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds to establish an SBRC. And the statewide SBDC Network has committed to fund the rest, so we’ll have our own local Center for the first time plus a statewide network of resources and capacity. Read more.
Free device checkups available at Colorado Springs Cybersecurity Day
If you’ve got an electronic device that you want to keep safe from hackers, or you know a family member who might be susceptible, you can get valuable tips Tuesday morning at the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center’s Cybersecurity Day. Read more.
Arizona SBDC holding five-part business workshop for Duncan entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs and business owners are being invited to participate in a five-part Business Development Workshop presented by the Eastern Arizona College Small Business Development Center at Duncan Town Hall. Read more.
Indiana Arts-Based Small Businesses Receive Economic Education
More than 100 Hoosier artists are participating in an annual creative accelerator to help arts-based small businesses. The Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana Small Business Development Center have created local partnerships across the state for the On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator. Read more.
Georgia Lunch & Learn event held
Pierce County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Lunch & Learn event last week. It was hosted with the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Eagle Station in Patterson. SBDC consultant Rob Martin presented a seminar with eight customer service strategies for success while Jennifer Lee, SBDC consultant for the region, provided business consultations. Read more.
VISBDC Launches Mobile App in Apple and Google Play Stores
The Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center (VISBDC) is proud to share another milestone in becoming more accessible to U.S. Virgin Islands Small Business owners and entrepreneurs. The VISBDC app is now live and available to download for both Apple and Android users. This medium gives users instant access to request one-on-one consulting at no charge, registration for affordable training events, small business announcements, downloadable and fillable guides, and the client portal. Read more.
Michigan SBDC creates ‘Pitch Black’ competition for Black-owned businesses
The Michigan Small Business Development Center West Michigan region created a new event called Pitch Black Muskegon, which invites Black-owned businesses in Muskegon County to apply for a chance to pitch for over $26,000 in prizes. Read more.
SBDC at IWU Earns Statewide ‘Shining Star’ Award
In recognition of outstanding branding and marketing efforts, the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of McLean County at Illinois Wesleyan University recently earned the statewide SBDC Network Shining Star award. Read more.
Business start-up surge bright spot in pandemic
There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy, especially damaging small businesses. While most analysts talked about the economic devastation, there was encouraging news. The pandemic led to a surge in startups. We saw this entrepreneurial surge in Kern County and specifically at the Small Business Development Center at California State University, Bakersfield, where consultants help existing small businesses and startups. Following are the stories of just three SBDC clients — one, who was on the verge of launching her yoga studio business when the pandemic hit; and two, who took giant leaps of faith to begin their businesses during one of the nation’s worst economic downturns. Read more.
$5K COVID Grants Available For Santa Clara Co. Small Businesses
Santa Clara County small businesses can apply for grants of up to $5,000 to help them take protective measures against COVID-19 as part of a new program that aims to provide up to $500,000 in financial assistance. The Silicon Valley and Hispanic Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are assisting the county with administering the program. Read more.
Region firms among businesses honored by state for completing export program
B.Nutty of Portage and Indiana Face Mask of Rensselaer were among 16 companies recognized by the state for completing the Export Indiana Accelerator Program. The program, which is managed by the Indiana SBDC, is a three-month initiative which provides small business owners with export guidance and market research resources necessary to create an export business plan. Read more.
SBDC At FAU Receives Funding From CITI Foundation
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Atlantic University recently received $500,000 in unrestricted funding from the Citi Foundation to support their continued work in providing technical assistance to small businesses owned by people of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the unprecedented health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.
Brosman named director of UWO’s Small Business Development Center
Alumnus Dan Brosman ’15, recently was promoted to director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Read more.
New Grant to Champion Small-Business Development in Mississippi
The Mississippi Small Business Development Center at the University of Mississippi is using a federal grant to expand the center’s support of small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural areas of the state. Read more.
Lake Mills’ Dave’s Auto Service Earns Entrepreneurs of the Month
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to recognize Joe Jamtgaard and Jackie Villela of Dave’s Auto in Lake Mills, IA as the July 2021 Entrepreneurs of the Month. Read more.