Colorado Celebrates National Small Business Development Center Day
DENVER – The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), is celebrating National SBDC Day today, Wednesday, March 17.
SBDC Day is a national proclamation of the vital impact that America’s SBDCs have on economic development and the small businesses community. In 2020, their work was more important than ever as they helped small businesses across the country navigate the various support from local, state and federal agencies, and provided free counseling and no or low-cost training.
In 2020, with the assistance of the Denver Metro SBDC, 36 Colorado businesses attributed their start to the help they received from an SBDC. The Denver Metro SBDC helped businesses to create 519 new jobs, retain an additional 608 jobs, infuse $18,599,990 in capital, and increase their sales by $19,867,935.
Denver Metro SBDC Director China Califf said, “It was inspiring to watch so many of our small businesses show resiliency through an incredibly challenging and unexpected year. We’re excited to see that many are now preparing for the recovery phase and leaning on us for support. We expect to partner with even more local small businesses this year than ever before.”
Throughout the month, the Colorado SBDC website will post stories about companies who found success through their work with the Colorado SBDC network.
“In Colorado, 99% of our economy comes from small businesses,” said Joey Jenkins, Colorado SBDC Network director. “Last year, we pivoted our resources to combat the economic impact of COVID-19. Our singular focus was to help both existing and new businesses survive, pivot and thrive.
“Despite the unprecedented scale of economic distress, Colorado saw more than 73,000 new business filings through the Secretary of State. In 2021, as the vaccine rolls out and the economy starts to recover, we are committed to helping each of these Colorado businesses succeed by providing the support, resources, education and the overall economic climate they need.”
To find out more about the Colorado SBDC Network, visit https://www.coloradosbdc.org/.
About the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
For 153 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the state and includes 3,000 businesses and their 400,000 employees, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses. For more information, go to denverchamber.org.
About Denver Metro Small Business Development Center
The Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves dedicated entrepreneurs who want to strengthen their path to success. Utilizing the powerful partnerships of the Colorado SBDC Network and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Denver Metro SBDC has been a cornerstone of the business community for over 25 years. For more information, visit denversbdc.org.