The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently adopted a resolution that honors small-business development centers for the work they provide.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester and Montgomery counties), who introduced the resolution, said. “When they need assistance or advice, small business development centers are the ones to help them, especially during these unprecedented times,” Shusterman said. “These centers have helped create over six thousand businesses since 2011 and generated over $3 billion in sales. As this is an extremely difficult time for small business owners, we need to thank those dedicated to helping them succeed.”
The centers have helped businesses establish and utilize e-commerce, an invaluable tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shusterman said.
There are 18 small-business development centers statewide located on university or college campuses and 90 support outreach centers. These centers provide entrepreneurs with free classes and consulting services.
Between 2011 and 2019, the centers provided more than 800,000 consulting hours and assisted in creating 6,267 new businesses.
The centers are funded by private donations, the state, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The first center was founded in 1980, and the lead office is located in Kutztown University.