Small Business Development Center Day set March 18

For 40 years, America’s Small Business Development Center Network has helped aspiring and emerging small business owners achieve the American dream of entrepreneurship.

Wednesday, March 18, marks the 4th Annual National Small Business Development Center Day, a collective proclamation of the success and impact America’s small business development centers have across the nation in economic development and the small business community. 

With nearly 1,000 locations across the country, SBDCs provide local businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources needed to succeed. In 2018, America’s SBDC clients experienced annual sales growth of 17.7 percent, almost 4.5 times more than the national average. National SBDC assistance resulted in 99,194 new jobs, $7 billion in sales growth, $5.6 billion in capital investments, and 16,499 new business starts.

For over 35 years, the University of Delaware’s Small Business Development Center has been helping businesses start, grow and succeed by providing training programs and free one-one-one professional business consulting. Funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the State of Delaware, the Delaware SBDC’s work has resulted in more than 1,500 new business starts and over 4,200 jobs since its inception, and over $267 million in capital since 2010.

Today, the Delaware SBDC team continues to provide top-rated support in: business start-up/expansion, business finance/loan packaging, technology commercialization/funding, market research, e-commerce/social media, rural business development, veterans training and cybersecurity. DSBDC is accredited as a technology-designated program to support entrepreneurs building tech-based companies. It also receives national recognition for its groundbreaking work in cybersecurity. DSBDC’s cyber program is recognized by the Department of Homeland Security as a national best practice, is featured annually at theSecure Delaware Cyber Conference, and has been adopted by over a dozen other SBDCs across the country.

Any business with 500 or fewer employees may contact the Delaware SBDC today regarding assistance for business needs. To learn more about special events, sign up for the newsletter and social media, or request free advising services, go to www.delawaresbdc.org.