SBDC in the news

Seton Hall Business School Becomes ‘Affiliate’ of NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark

America’s SBDC New Jersey officially announced that it is partnering with the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University in South Orange.  The agreement allows Seton Hall University’s Business School to become a formal “affiliate” office for the full-time service Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Rutgers Business School in Newark.

“This new partnership with Seton Hall University is a most welcome addition to our strong network of small business affiliates throughout the state,” said NJSBDC network Chief Executive Officer and State Director Brenda B. Hopper. “It provides new and enhanced opportunities for NJSBDC service coverage on Seton Hall’s campus for entrepreneurs and small business owners through our full-time Center, NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark.”

“We’re excited to be an affiliate office for the NJSBDC program,” said Joyce Strawser, Dean of Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business. “We believe that there is much synergy in promoting entrepreneurship and small business ownership. Working with the SBDC program to support entrepreneurs and small business owners in our communities as well as serious-minded, entrepreneurial business students at Seton Hall will be a very productive endeavor.”

“Working with Business School Dean Joyce Strawser and a few administrators at Seton Hall to develop support for such a partnership has been a real pleasure. We look forward to working closely with the Business School in making this a strong and growing partnership,” said Deborah Smarth, NJSBDC network Chief Operating Officer and Associate State Director. “This formal affiliate partnership strengthens NJSBDC’s visibility, and allows us to leverage the resources of Seton Hall University to make available more technical assistance and training opportunities for small business owners on Seton Hall’s campus and in the surrounding communities of Essex County.”

Last year, the Small Business Development Center at Rutgers-Newark provided 1,244 hours of no-cost one-on-one counseling to its clients and 66 training programs.  This activity helped to provide $8.1 million in financing for small business owners throughout Essex County and also helped to create and retain 690 jobs in the county. “The addition of Seton Hall University as an affiliate, should certainly add to that total in the upcoming year,” added Hopper.

“We are already working on a full slate of training events and customized counseling on-site for the new affiliate,”said Tendai Ndoro, Ph.D. regional center director of NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark.  “I look forward to building this new affiliate relationship with faculty and students at Seton Hall University and providing new opportunities for small business owners with access to SBDC services on campus.”

The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark is one of 12 centers throughout the state and provides comprehensive assistance for small businesses in Essex County. Customized one-on-one counseling and other training seminars will be offered at the Stillman School at Seton Hall University by the Center.

In 2016, the NJSBDC network provided one-on-one counseling for more than 4,200 clients; facilitated $88.3 million in financing; and helped clients create and save more than 16,000 jobs in the state.  In terms of business start-ups, 567 clients started a new business.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to receive no-cost counseling or are interested in attending upcoming entrepreneurial training sessions on the Seton Hall campus should call (973) 353-5950.

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