US Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide a wide array of technical assistance to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs supporting business performance and sustainability and enhancing the creation of new businesses entities. These small businesses in turn foster local and regional economic development through job creation and retention as a result of the extensive one-on-one long-term counseling, training and specialized services they receive from the SBDCs. The SBDCs are made up of a unique collaboration of SBA, state and local governments, and private sector funding resources.

SBDCs provide services such as development of business plans, manufacturing assistance, financial packages, and procurement contracts. Special emphasis areas include international trade and export assistance; e-commerce; technology transfer; assistance for veterans, including reservists, active duty, and disabled personnel returning from deployment; disaster recovery assistance; IRS, EPA, and OSHA regulatory compliance; research and development as well as market research. Based on client needs and local business trends and individual business requirements, SBDCs modify their services to meet the evolving needs of the small business community in which they are situated.

SBDC assistance is available virtually anywhere with 63 networks branching out with more than 900 delivery points throughout the U.S., the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands,. SBDC hosts include:

• 48 University-sponsored SBDC hosts: 16 SBDC locations are located at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (Two such Lead Centers are Howard University in Washington, DC, and the University of the Virgin Islands, USVI)

• 8 Community college-sponsored SBDC hosts: Dallas-TX, UT, OR, NM, AZ, San Diego-CA, Los Angeles-CA, and American Samoa

• 7 State-sponsored Lead SBDCs (CO, IL, IN, MN, MT, OH, & WV): Since 1990, Congress has required all new Lead SBDCs be managed by institutions of higher education or women’s business centers

SBDC services are available to all small business populations. There are specialized programs for minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, 8(a) firms in all stages, as well as individuals in low and moderate income urban and rural areas.

History

Since its founding on July 30, 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.

SBA was officially established in 1953, but its philosophy and mission began to take shape years earlier in a number of predecessor agencies, largely as a response to the pressures of the Great Depression and World War II.

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