FUNDING SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
One way to help plug the state’s $26 billion budget deficit is to adequately
fund California Small Business Development Centers.
Located throughout the state, Small Business Development Centers offer free
consulting and low-cost training to business owners and entrepreneurs. They
teach small business owners how to successfully manage and market their firms
and how to write strong business plans that can get them capital. Data from
the U.S. Small Business Administration, which partially funds the state
program, shows that small business owners who work with a coach/consultant
are more likely to create new jobs, grow and increase revenues than small
businesses that do not have this type of support. State strategies that help
small businesses grow revenues and hire employees lead to more money for the
state.
Half of working Americans either own or work for a small business. Over the
past 15 years, small businesses have created 64 percent of net new private
sector jobs. In other words, small businesses punch above their weight in making
a strong economic impact in communities across the state. In spite of the recent
economic problems, the California Small Business Development Centers helped
entrepreneurs start 639 new businesses, create 2,800 new jobs, and retain
another 2,400 jobs. They also helped entrepreneurs obtain $125 million in
financing to grow their businesses and bring in over $118 million in new taxable
revenues.
With a database of over 300,000 business owners and entrepreneurs throughout
California, Small Business Development Centers provide information and updates
to the small business community with the stroke of a computer key. They also
have strong relationships with more than 2,000 cities, counties, non-profits,
colleges, chambers and government agencies.
As California leaders ponder the deficit, it’s my hope they’ll see the strong
value of Small Business Development Centers. They’ve been key in growing and
developing firms that will help power the state economy back to health.
This has been a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opinion editorial provided by Kristin Johnson,
state chair of the California Small Business Development Center Program: Kristin Johnson is the state chair
of the California Small Business Development Center Program. She can be reached at (707) 826-3919;
e-mail is johnson@californiasbdc.org
fund California Small Business Development Centers.
Located throughout the state, Small Business Development Centers offer free
consulting and low-cost training to business owners and entrepreneurs. They
teach small business owners how to successfully manage and market their firms
and how to write strong business plans that can get them capital. Data from
the U.S. Small Business Administration, which partially funds the state
program, shows that small business owners who work with a coach/consultant
are more likely to create new jobs, grow and increase revenues than small
businesses that do not have this type of support. State strategies that help
small businesses grow revenues and hire employees lead to more money for the
state.
Half of working Americans either own or work for a small business. Over the
past 15 years, small businesses have created 64 percent of net new private
sector jobs. In other words, small businesses punch above their weight in making
a strong economic impact in communities across the state. In spite of the recent
economic problems, the California Small Business Development Centers helped
entrepreneurs start 639 new businesses, create 2,800 new jobs, and retain
another 2,400 jobs. They also helped entrepreneurs obtain $125 million in
financing to grow their businesses and bring in over $118 million in new taxable
revenues.
With a database of over 300,000 business owners and entrepreneurs throughout
California, Small Business Development Centers provide information and updates
to the small business community with the stroke of a computer key. They also
have strong relationships with more than 2,000 cities, counties, non-profits,
colleges, chambers and government agencies.
As California leaders ponder the deficit, it’s my hope they’ll see the strong
value of Small Business Development Centers. They’ve been key in growing and
developing firms that will help power the state economy back to health.
This has been a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opinion editorial provided by Kristin Johnson,
state chair of the California Small Business Development Center Program: Kristin Johnson is the state chair
of the California Small Business Development Center Program. She can be reached at (707) 826-3919;
e-mail is johnson@californiasbdc.org
Posted by Tim Johnson at 6/27/2010 10:17 PM 
Categories: California, Business Development, Guest Columnist, Economic Development
Categories: California, Business Development, Guest Columnist, Economic Development
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