National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day is observed on March 15 and honors the hard work of all the devoted team members around the nation, as well as their clients and the economic effect of small businesses on their communities. Nationally, there are close to 1,000 SBDCs that support veterans, women-owned companies, underprivileged areas, and young entrepreneurs. SBDCs also support the advancement of technology, exports, and rural development. In 2020-2021, Nationwide SBDCs contributed to the development of 85,094 jobs, $10.1 billion in sales growth, $7.7 billion in capital investments, and 14,487 new firms, demonstrating their leadership in job creation and economic expansion.
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (PASBDC) network has had a significant impact on providing problem-solving assistance to assist aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses in gaining access to capital, developing and exchanging new technologies, and enhancing business planning and strategies. From October 2021 to September 2022, the PASBDC network assisted 719 new enterprises in Pennsylvania, which supported 68,675 employment and advised 13,718 customers, resulting in the development of over $312 million in the capital.
Dr. Ernie Post, director of the PASBDC, stated, “As we mark national SBDC Day, I would want to congratulate our more than 13,000 small company customers who are currently utilizing one of our 15 regional centers for no-cost business support. Our Pennsylvania SBDC customers are the largest job creators in our Province, and they come from a variety of industries, with the top three being service, retail, and manufacturing. Almost fifty percent of our clients are woman-owned firms, and over twenty percent are minority entrepreneurs seeking expansion assistance. Every day, our more than 150 skilled team members in Pennsylvania work relentlessly to assist their customers in starting, expanding, and enhancing their businesses. I am grateful for the committed PASBDC staff members who offer their expertise, experience, and enthusiasm to assist small business owners in achieving success.”
To commemorate SBDC Day, PASBDC centers around the state are providing a variety of in-person activities and free webinar training programs:
The seminars, webinars, and training activities scheduled for March 15 include, but are not limited to,
- Have Your Website Checked – Online, March 15 (10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
- How to Determine Whether Your Company Idea Would Really Be Successful – Online, March 15 (2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
- Maintain Business Progression – Online, March 15 (Noon – 12:30 p.m.)
- The First Step Express Online on 15 March (6 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
- Comprehending the Figures Section 1: Accounting and Recordkeeping for Companies — Online on 15 March (1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
- Understanding Product Liability: Safeguarding Your Farm-Based Food Enterprise – Online, 15 March (10 a.m.- Noon)
Small companies, economic partners in the community, and friends are encouraged to help spread the news about SBDC Day and to follow the dialogue online using the hashtag #SBDCDay. The nation’s SBDCs will collaborate to publish, in real-time, center success stories from throughout the country and the aggregate benefits SBDCs have on the small business community.