During the 2020 National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration will honor Resource Partners for their impact on local economic development, and support of small business creation and growth across the nation. Additionally, all of SBA’s resource partners are being recognized for providing resources to small businesses as they work to sustain their operations and employees, as well as pivot and retool amid the global pandemic. SBA is honoring the following Resource Partners with 2020 National Small Business Week awards:
- Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Business Center
- University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center
- Veterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University
- SCORE Chapter – Greater Seattle
Theaward winners will be recognized during virtual events held on September 22-24,2020. Each year, the SBA counsels, trains and advises more than onemillion entrepreneurs and small business owners with the help of its resourcepartners. Together, SBA Resource Partners provide business consulting,access to capital, mentoring services, specialized training and the expertisefor each stage of a business’s lifecycle. Their outstanding efforts havesupported the growth of small businesses, which in turn drives the nation’seconomy. Entrepreneurs receiving resource partner assistance are morelikely to start a business and successfully obtain the financing necessary forbusiness growth.
TheSBA congratulates the following 2020 Resource Partner national award winners:
Women’s Business Center ofExcellence Award
SoutheasternConnecticut Women’s Business Center
LauraStetler, Project Director, Women’s Development Business Council
NewLondon, Connecticut
Since2018, the Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Business Center (WBC), based in NewLondon, has served the southeast part of Connecticut, including New London andMiddlesex Counties, with programs and services for aspiring, emerging andestablid entrepreneurs.
TheWomen’s Business Center of Excellence award honors the Southeastern ConnecticutWBC for its excellence and innovation in assisting women entrepreneurs byproviding diverse training and counseling.
Thestate of Connecticut’s Women’s Business Development Council is host to three ofSBA’s WBCs, including the Southeastern Connecticut WBC. The WBC programwas founded to foster the growth of women-owned businesses by providing accessto education, training, mentoring, business development, and financingopportunities to women throughout the U.S. and its territories.
Small Business Development CenterExcellence and Innovation Award
Universityof Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
RaymondVargo, Director
Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania
Establidin 1979, the University of Pittsburgh has built an impressive record of servicefor clients. Director Raymond Vargo believes three of his SBDC’s programs standout as key to area small business growth and development. A “Launch MyBusiness” workshop is geared toward providing small business startup advice toentrepreneurs in coal-impacted communities interested in opening the doors tosmall business ownership. the University of Pittsburgh SBDC’s “ProblemSolvers-Decision Makers” course brings small business owners together sharingideas and formulating solutions to growth issues. And two programs titled “UPMCEssentials for Success and “Doing Business with Pitt,” registered such positivefeedback they’ve now been expanded into additional Pennsylvania communities oremulated by other universities and colleges.
TheUniversity of Pittsburgh SBDC is a member of the Pennsylvania SBDC andthe Association of Small BusinessDevelopment Centers (ASBDC) networks. As a member ofthese networks, they can draw on a rich base to provide clients with acomprehensive range of business services for every stage of development. Nomatter what the business or industry, SBDC’s highly skilled consulting team hasexperience spanning the business lifecycle and are here to make sure thatbusinesses not only survive but grow.
Veterans Business Outreach CenterExcellence in Service Award
VeteransBusiness Outreach Center (VBOC) at Fayetteville State University
TamaraBryant, Director
Fayetteville,North Carolina
TheVeterans Business Outreach Center at Fayetteville State University providesveterans, active duty, and military spouses with the tools needed to establishand grow their businesses, generate profits, and become essential contributorsto the economic development of North Carolina. Last year, the VBOC at FSUcounseled 734 clients, contributing to the creation of 92 jobs. Thanks to astrong partnership with local lenders, the center helped clients access morethan $1.2 million in startup and expansion capital.
Thecenter also conducted 43 Boots to Business and Boots to Business Rebootclasses, with 672 participants ac
ross four installations. During 2019, thecenter also organized 60 seminars and training sessions for 1,558 participants.
SCORE Chapter of the Year
SCOREGreater Seattle
KristaFuller, Chapter Chair
TomHughes, Assistant District Director
Seattle,Washington
SCOREGreater Seattle has a proven track record of results and the ability to createsustained community impact. With more than 100 skilled mentors and addededucational workshops, the chapter has helped Greater Seattle’s smallbusinesses to start and grow.
SCOREGreater Seattle is viewed as one of the strongest chapters in the country. Theyregularly assist other chapters with tools and advice on growing, improving,and managing their chapters. They have developed best-in-class VolunteerEngagement, Client Engagement and Community Engagement practices, which areregularly shared with other chapters around the country.
In addition to the national virtual awards event, SBA offices in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam will celebrate National Small Business Week throughout September 2020. For registration and additional information on National Small Business Week, please visit sba.gov/NSBW.
