Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program

A broadband service delivery network making a significant, strategic investment in building and enhancing local economies in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administers the Small Business Development Center Program (SBDC) to provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community, and federal, state, and local governments. It enhances economic development by providing small businesses with management and technical assistance.

There are now 63 Lead Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) — one in every state (Texas has four, California has six), the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — with a network of more than 1,100 service locations.

In each state, there is a lead organization that sponsors the SBDC and manages the program. The lead organization coordinates program services offered to small businesses through a network of sub-centers and satellite locations in each state. Sub-centers are located at colleges, universities, community colleges, vocational schools, chambers of commerce, and economic development corporations.

SBDC assistance is tailored to the local community and the needs of individual clients. Each center develops services in cooperation with local SBA district offices to ensure statewide coordination with other available resources.

Each center has a director, staff members, volunteers, and part-time personnel. Qualified individuals recruited from professional and trade associations, the legal and banking community, academia, chambers of commerce, and SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) are among those who donate their services. SBDCs also use paid consultants, consulting engineers, and testing laboratories from the private sector to help clients who need specialized expertise.

The SBA provides 50 percent or less of the operating funds for each state SBDC; one or more sponsors provide the rest. These matching fund contributions are provided by state legislatures, private sector foundations and grants, state and local chambers of commerce, state-chartered economic development corporations, public and private universities, vocational and technical schools, community colleges, etc. Increasingly, sponsors' contributions exceed the minimum 50 percent matching share.

Project Examples
Client confidentiality prohibits SBDC staff from providing examples.

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Assistance from SBDC is available to anyone interested in beginning a small business for the first time or improving or expanding an existing small business, who cannot afford the services of a private consultant.

Specific uses and offerings vary among SBDCs. Some may have programs or offerings specifically directed at agricultural businesses; others may not. Contact your local SBDC for more information.

Contact
The SBA has offices located throughout the country. For the one nearest you, consult the website or the telephone directory under "U.S. Government," or call the Small Business Answer Desk at (800) 8-ASK-SBA or (202) 205-7064 (fax). For the hearing impaired, the TDD number is (202) 205-7333.

Internet
www.sba.gov/sbdc/

Last Updated January 24, 2005