March 21 Named NJ Small Business Development Centers Day

On Mar 20, 2018

America’s SBDC New Jersey will join with the other 49 states’ SBDCs across the nation to celebrate SBDC Day on Wednesday, March 21.  Nearly 1,000 offices nationally are collaborating in promoting the core mission and successful outcomes of America’s SBDC program via social media and live business events.

Governor Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver signed a proclamation acknowledging #SBDC Day on March 21, 2018 and the impact of the SBDC program, following in the footsteps of other states’ governors nationally. Very recently, the Administration heard directly from some of SBDC’s clients in different industry sectors. The clients shared their stories on how the NJSBDC assisted them to increase sales revenues, obtain procurement contracts and financing, enhance their business operations as well as create and save jobs. The Murphy Administration also received data on the program’s return on investment and economic impact for 2017 from the network’s chief operating officer and associate state director.

America’s SBDC New Jersey, also known as the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, has scheduled many events/open houses on #SBDC Day. The program has notable impact on the lives and direction of entrepreneurs and small business owners. SBDC helps clients generate jobs, create new businesses and catalyze economic development in communities across the U.S.

“We’re collaborating on a national basis to highlight this program’s successes,” said Brenda Hopper, NJSBDC network chief executive officer and state director. “There’s no better way than to highlight SBDC’s client success stories. The network’s 12 centers statewide and specialty programs including Technology Commercialization, E-Business, International Trade, Procurement, and Sustainability, help clients attain success.”

“Our 12 centers’ experts help our small business clients learn how to face the daily challenges in developing and building their business,” added Deborah Smarth, NJSBDC network chief operating officer and associate state director. “SBDC Day emphasizes the network’s mission of providing guidance and assistance for our small business clients to achieve and sustain success.”

Some highlights of March 21st events and social media efforts at SBDCs (12 regional centers) in New Jersey include:

At the NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College (Monmouth & Ocean counties), clients will participate in a Twitter campaign concerning how the regional center has assisted them in achieving success. SBDC clients were invited to send in short videos that will be placed on the Center’s social media platforms, providing a business description and what they like best about the SBDC program. Webinars on business topics being offered will be posted.

At the NJSBDC at Kean University (Union County) is holding a “walk-in” day where nascent entrepreneurs and small business owners can mingle with SBDC staff to learn about SBDC’s services and how the program can assist them.

The NJSBDC at New Jersey City University (Hudson County) is holding a business planning training event on the eve of #SBDC Day at City Hall in Jersey City on March 20^th in collaboration with the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation, JCEDC (12-2:00 pm).

The NJSBDC of Northwest Jersey (Morris, Sussex, & Warren counties) is sponsoring webinars on issues like in-bound marketing to help not only attract visitors to a business website, but, converting them into customer leads (9:00 am); human resource issues in the workplace (10:00 am); small business loans (11:00 am); B-GAP (Business Growth Accelerator Program) for high-growth clients, $1M>revenues and/or 10>employees, (2:00 pm); and government contracting (3:00 pm).

The NJSBDC at Ramapo College of New Jersey (Bergen County) is hosting a special session concerning SBDC services for the College’s graduate and undergraduate students who would like to pursue entrepreneurship as a career path. The regional SBDC is also holding an Open House for small businesses in the county to demonstrate how “Growth Wheel” software can help them better plot, monitor, and manage their business operations.

The NJSBDC at Raritan Valley Community College (Hunterdon & Somerset counties) is sponsoring “Tell us Your SBDC Story” campaign while SBDC staff instructs participants on how to post their business stories on the Center’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. The Center will also host a Twitter chat with those who respond to the SBDC Day invitation.

The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Camden (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties)  is featuring up to four clients on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) to illustrate how the program helped them with bigger impact; includes a Yoga studio, Salt bath spa, and the Center’s 2017 Success Award Winner DoveLin Enterprises, Inc.

The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark (Essex County) is hosting an SBDC Day Lunch and Learn networking event at its Center office. The event focuses on stakeholders and partners including Essex County Libraries, Chambers of Commerce, and Downtown Business Improvement District partners concerning SBDC services, resources and opportunities for mutual collaboration.

The NJSBDC at Rutgers-New Brunswick (Middlesex County) is sponsoring a workshop session on QuickBooks to support business financial learning and maintaining financial information in an accessible and useful way.

The NJSBDC at Stockton University (Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties) will be promoting SBDC Day and the SBDC program on social media platforms; will provide updated information about the Center’s past client Success Award Winners. The Director will also be speaking with students at Stockton University about how they may tap SBDC services to start their own business.

The NJSBDC at The College of New Jersey (Mercer County) will be engaging on a client SBDC Day rally through social media, posting business operational articles for clients’ consumption and offering a complimentary Constant Contact Trends workshop.

The NJSBDC at William Paterson University (Passaic County) has scheduled a workshop on “Opening Your Store on Amazon and EBay” at the Hamilton Club in downtown Paterson from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Beginning at 2:00 pm, videos of SBDC clients will be taped to enable them to describe their business and how SBDC helped them so they can post on their business websites, too. Clients are calling for appointments at the SBDC Paterson office and there will be refreshments served as part of its Open House.

To access more business news, visit njbmagazine.com

Related Articles: