Top SBA Resource Partners to be Honored at National Small Business Week

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration is recognizing the 2015 National Small Business Week resource partner awardees for their achievements in advancing small business growth and development.  A Missouri Veterans Business Outreach Center, a Pennsylvania SCORE Chapter, a Louisiana Small Business Development Center, and a Puerto Rico Women's Business Center will be honored at National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C., for their exceptional business assistance and outreach to their small business communities.

Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation designating National Small Business Week.  This year, the celebration will take place May 4-8 all across the country, with the theme "Dream Big, Start Small."  SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet will travel during the week to events in Miami/Boca Raton, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York and Washington, D.C.  For more information on national events please visit: www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek.

While overall outreach in providing relevant training and counseling services was an important factor in the entrepreneurial development awards, excellence and innovation in assisting small businesses were paramount in determining the winners.

These winners, along with other national winners and finalists for the National Small Business Person of the Year, will be invited to a recognition ceremony as part of National Small Business Week at the White House on May 8.

Veterans Business Outreach Center
Veterans Business Outreach Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Darcella K. Craven, Executive Director
Damon Chaffin, Business Consultant
Londa Young, Research Analyst
Angela Thomas, Development Coordinator
Debbie Fanning, Administrator
Alan Rohlfing, Outreach Director
Tracy Bently, Business Counselor, Kansas City market
Roger Horn, Volunteer Business Mentor

The Veterans Business Resource Center in St. Louis has been assisting veterans, transitioning military and their families with starting and expanding small businesses since 2004. They have assisted more than 10,000 service members, veterans and their families through seminars, webinars, trainings and one-on-one counseling.  The center reaches out to small business owners using social media. They are advocates of "aligning and amplifying" partnerships around Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri to ensure that veteran small business owners have access to local and national resources that will help grow their companies.

SCORE Chapter of the Year
Chester and Delaware County SCORE, West Chester, Pennsylvania
George Edwards, Co-Chair
Jim Kane, Co-Chair
Hugh MacMaster, District Director

The Chester and Delaware County SCORE chapter is the National SCORE Chapter of the Year. This chapter has achieved success by focusing on the needs of its small business clients first. It provides mentoring at eight locations throughout the local area and offers extended hours, including nights and Saturdays.  The chapter also offers business education seminars, a robust email mentoring service and workshops for its Hispanic clients.  The chapter's development of partnerships has been incredibly effective in spreading awareness of SCORE in the local region.  Notable partners include seven local Chambers of Commerce, the Chester County Economic Development Council, Chester County government, Chester County Library System, as well as local universities and high schools.  

Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award
Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, Louisiana
William Joubert, Center Director
Sandy A. Summers, Assistant Director/Training Coordinator
Wayne R. Ricks, Senior Business Consultant
Brandy M. Boudreax, Business Consultant

Since 1984, the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) has provided solutions to help small businesses start and grow to the next level.  The LSBDC provides business consulting and training seminars designed to help small businesses succeed. The LSBDC serves individuals interested in starting or expanding a business within five Louisiana Parishes, including Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington.

The center's dedicated staff has provided more than 21,000 hours of training and helped secure over $256 million in loans and equity capital. 

Women's Business Center of Excellence Award
Instituto Empresarial para la Mujer (Women's Business Institute), San Juan, Puerto Rico
Limaris Aponte, WBC Director

Since 1997, the Puerto Rico Women's Business Institute (WBI) at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón has become the leading entrepreneurial organization for women in Puerto Rico.  The center offers training and assistance in the areas of business planning, financial management, marketing and other specialized business services.  The WBI provides business training services to more than 1,000 individuals each year.  Most of the WBI's clientele consists of women, and more than 95 percent are Hispanic.  Another fundamental part of the WBI's success is its volunteers program to support specialized services.  Professional volunteers offer special seminars and workshops, participate as resources on expert panels, and provide individualized counseling on technical issues.

Small Business Week 2015 sponsors include: Chase, Microsoft, Colonial Life, Office Depot, yp, ADP, Visa, PayPal, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Facebook, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, CT Corporation, Sam's Club, Como, Indeed, Manta, Marriott, Raytheon.

Cosponsorship Authorization # SBW 2015. 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.

Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-3059
Release Number: 15-40| Internet Address: www.sba.gov/news 
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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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