SBDCs Nationally Join Together for Annual #SBDCDay

On Mar 17, 2020

America’s SBDC New Jersey will join with the other 49 states’ SBDCs across the nation to celebrate SBDC Day on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Due to the situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the 12-center SBDC network – consistent with other SBDCs across the nation – will utilize social media platforms, virtual training sessions, podcasts and videos on March 18 #SBDCDay. Celebrating client success stories and promoting SBDC comprehensive assistance are important components for the national proclaimed SBDC Day. Nearly 1,000 offices nationally are collaborating to promote the core mission and highlight successful outcomes of the national America’s SBDC program via social media and other virtual business events. The national program assists up to 1,000,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses each year.

Governor Phil Murphy signed a Proclamation acknowledging #SBDCDay on March 18, 2020
and the economic impact of the SBDC program, joining other states’ governors nationally.
NJSBDC clients will share their stories on how they were assisted to increase sales revenues,
start new businesses, obtain procurement contracts and capital financing, enhance their business
operations to the next level as well as create and save jobs.

The SBDC program influences the actions and decisions of entrepreneurs and small business
owners, catalyzing economic development in communities across the U.S. and will provide
support to small businesses during this public health and safety crisis.

“Our SBDC client success stories are abundant, both, statewide and nationally. In New Jersey,
our 12 centers statewide and specialty programs like Technology Commercialization, EBusiness, International Trade, Procurement, and Sustainability help clients start and grow
business operations, attaining success,” said Brenda Hopper, NJSBDC network chief executive
officer and state director.

“Our experts assist small business clients in navigating the ongoing challenges in starting and
expanding their business development to the next stage of growth,” added Deborah Smarth,
NJSBDC network chief operating officer and associate state director. “SBDC Day emphasizes
the network’s small business assistance mission. Our efforts assist small business clients to
achieve success, starting and growing business operations to create and save jobs.”

The SBDC national program is considered to be ‘boots on the ground’ for disaster assistance. As
a result of potential impacts from the coronavirus on the small business community, the
NJSBDC network will continue to assist small business owners in very key areas. The SBDC
network’s experts will provide counseling/management consulting, business advisory assistance
and training through online/virtual platforms and through telephone conversations as Centers
located at different higher education institutions must abide by emergency policies at
universities/colleges and state government to deal with the potential pandemic.

In state fiscal year 2018-2019, the 12-center NJSBDC network assisting small business owners
in all 21 counties, provided more than 23,000 total counseling hours for 4,727 business clients
and trained 7,098 individuals and small business clients at 491 training seminars statewide; in
addition, 966 SBDC clients started a new business; 60% of all clients were established/existing
businesses from diverse industry sectors with varying business life cycles and revenue levels.
The NJSBDC helped its clients access $98 million in financing and create and save more than
15,000 jobs. Clients generated more than $1 billion in sales revenues, generating conservatively
$60 million in sales tax revenues, notwithstanding additional small business tax revenues
generated.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: