The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network continues to make an impact across the Commonwealth by leveraging partnerships and maximizing funding available for its programs. Highlights of the 2011 funding cycle include:
In partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), host institutions and partners, the Pennsylvania SBDC provided a total of 100,123 hours of no-fee management consulting to 7,085 clients. View the entire annual report for more details:
In the first half of calendar year 2011, the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) delivered 49,391 hours of no-fee management consulting and 6,024 individuals and firms benefited directly from 347 educational programs. The Pennsylvania SBDC network also responded to numerous inquiries, circulated printed materials, updated websites, and provided critical information to partners to address small business concerns.
Highlights include:
Impact resulting from these activities is evidenced by the success stories and described in detail throughout the report:
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) continued to face challenges in 2010. The main challenge was to ensure the delivery of quality consulting an educational programming to small businesses across the Commonwealth given the continued reduction of state funding support. Even with reduced resources, the Pennsylvania SBDC program was able to maintain its position as a leader in starting businesses and diversifying Pennsylvania’s local economies. The 18 Centers provided timely consulting, education, and information to new and existing business owners resulting in:
In partnership with the US Small Business Administration, the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development, host institutions and partners, the Pennsylvania SBDC provided a total of 101,739 hours of consulting services to 8,205 clients in 2010. View the full annual report for more details:
In 2010, the small business community continued to deal with the evolving nature of the economic downturn. Several regions were also affected by large employers downsizing or closing due to economic pressures. Unemployment remains at or near double digit levels across the Commonwealth. In response to these continued challenges, the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network reexamined its service delivery, its position in the marketplace, and the needs of its clients.
Individuals, whose present or future outlooks on employment are slim, find themselves seeking self employment as a final option. Many more turned to the SBDC with the idea of starting their own business in the first half of 2010.
Demand for one-on-one consulting continues to increase, and the SBDC network is working to help small businesses cut costs, establish new marketing strategies, and not only survive, but thrive, in the current economic conditions. More detail is included in the entire report:
The global recession, marked by rampant business failure, foreclosures, and soaring unemployment, left an indelible impact on the business landscape in 2009. Small businesses in Pennsylvania and across the nation continued to struggle in efforts to access capital and convince wary consumers to buy products and services. The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) continued its efforts to help small firms respond to the recession’s effects and engage partners in shaping the recovery, resulting in:
In partnership with the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), host institutions and partners, the Pennsylvania SBDC is pleased to report a total of 9,746 clients received 133,984 hours of consulting services in 2009. For more detailed information, please review the entire report:
Recent numbers indicate the U.S. economy is improving after a tumultuous year for small businesses, in which many were adversely affected by the housing downturn, declining sales, and a grudging credit market. In the first half of 2009, the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) continued to help small firms respond to the recession’s effects, engaging partners in efforts to shape the recovery.
The 2009 Semi-Annual Report reviews the economic environment and activities of the centers to support small businesses from January-June 2009:
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) network reports an impressive level of entrepreneurial activity despite the many challenges presented in the past year. A total of 9,385 clients received 148,796 hours of consulting services in 2008.
As a result, laid-off workers began their own ventures. Better-positioned businesses retained jobs and pursued niche market opportunities. Strong companies grew sales and added jobs, even as large corporations posted enormous losses.
The following offers an overview of activities for calendar year 2008. For more detailed information, please review the entire annual report:
