SBA Recognizes Leading Resource Partners during National Small Business Week

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, is recognizing the 2016 National Small Business Week resource partner winners for their role and successes in advancing small business growth and development among U.S. small businesses.

A New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center, an Ohio SCORE Chapter, a South Carolina Small Business Development Center and a North Dakota Women's Business Center will all be honored during a National Small Business Week recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., May 1-2, for their outstanding business assistance, outreach and development within their local small business communities.

Counseling provided by Small Business Development Centers, SCORE partners, Women's Business Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers help entrepreneurs across America start, grow or reinvigorate their businesses. SBA partnering with these organizations is one of the smartest investments we can make.

SBA thanks our resource partners for their extraordinary work. Every year, more than one million small business owners receive assistance through SBA and our resource partner network. Those who receive our assistance are more likely to start a business and successfully obtain financing critical to growth.

Key factors in determining the winners of the entrepreneurial development awards were excellence and innovation in assisting small businesses, overall client satisfaction, market penetration, and outreach in providing relevant counseling and training services.

The award winners include:

Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award
New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Joseph "Joe" Long, Director

The New Mexico Veterans Business Resource Center (NMVBOC) assists veterans from all branches of military service with all levels of business start and growth, including exporting, financing and contracting.  Its dynamic services are offered through business counseling, trainings, workshops and seminars for veterans and their families. They are partners in the community, providing services throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma.  They ensure that veterans in the region are made aware of the resources available to them to create or expand a veteran-owned small business.  Since 2012, the NMVBOC has been led by retired Colonel Joseph Long, a distinguished 37-year veteran and small business owner.

SCORE Chapter of the Year
Canton SCORE in Canton, Ohio
Ed Messerly, Chapter Chair
Ed Levy, Vice Chair
Richard "Dick" Evans, Assistant District Director
Pat Ripple, Area District Director

The Canton SCORE chapter has achieved success by its continuous performance improvement and growth. Over the past three years, Canton has increased their total client services by almost 2.5 times (totaling nearly 2,000 total services). Considering that Canton's population is under 73,000, the nearly 40 volunteers that helped their community start 169 new businesses and create 324 new jobs is extremely impressive. Canton SCORE is a perfect example of how SCORE can change people's lives and positively impact their local community.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Charleston Area Small Business Development Center in North Charleston, South Carolina
Tom Lauria, Director

Matching the vibrant nature of the local economy, the Charleston Area offices of the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers have been adept at keeping up with the needs of the local community well beyond the goals set for them. Beyond the normal goals of spurring economic development through job creation and capital formation, the Charleston Area SBDC is home to consultants with precise skill sets to help clients take their businesses to the next level through exports, technology commercialization and government contract procurement. The SBDC assists its clients with services that include creating business plans, securing working capital, exporting, developing marketing strategies, and examining cash flow management and operational capabilities

Women's Business Center of Excellence
North Dakota Center for Technology & Business in Bismarck, North Dakota
Debra Eslinger, Program Director
Deidre A. Hillman, Program Coordinator
Joanna C. Krizan, Financial Coordinator
Laurie C. Morse-Dell, Marketing Coordinator

The North Dakota Center for Technology & Business operates the North Dakota Women's Business Center (ND WBC), formed to help build North Dakota's economy through technology-based programming and women's business development. The ND WBC has had a consistent economic impact on the rural communities that it serves by providing innovative and in-demand training opportunities that have surpassed its training goals over the last three fiscal years.

This dynamic center provides business advising and technical assistance that is smart, accessible and efficient in its delivery of services. Through its dedicated staff, the center also surpassed its counseling goals for the last three fiscal years. In addition, it provides a variety of programs and regularly works with community partners state-wide.

These winners, along with other national award winners and finalists for the national Small Business Person of the Year, have been invited to the National Small Business Week awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., May 1-2, to be recognized and awarded for their achievements.

Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation designating National Small Business Week.  This year celebration will take place May 1-7 around the nation, with the theme "Dream Big, Start Small." 

Events throughout the week will be live-streamed on SBA's website.  There will also be the opportunity during events for live social media engagement using the hashtag #DreamSmallBiz.

For more information on National Small Business Week events, please visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.

Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2016 SBA's participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA/SCORE programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.  Contact: [email protected]. SCORE is partially funded by SBA Cooperative Agreement No. SBAHQ-14-S-0001.

National Small Business Week 2016 sponsors include: Chase for Business, SCORE, ADP, Colonial Life, Intuit, Sam' s Club, Square, YP, ESET, Facebook, Instagram, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) and VEDC

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.  The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses.  Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. www.sba.gov

Release Number: 16-31

Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059
Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news  
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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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