Small Business Development Center Network
OVERVIEW The Utah Small Business Development Center network (SBDC) strives to strengthen Utah’s economic fabric and quality of life by facilitating the success and prosperity of small business endeavors. The SBDC consists of business consultants, trainers, educators and support staff operating statewide from Utah’s state colleges and universities. The Utah host for the SBDC program is Salt Lake Community College, with regional host institutions at Utah State University — College of Eastern Utah (Price and Blanding), Davis ATC, Dixie State College, Salt Lake Community College, Snow College (Ephraim and Richfield), Southern Utah University, Utah State University (Logan and Vernal), Utah Valley University and Weber State University. Other key stakeholders include the US Small Business Administration and the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Key goals include providing significant, in-depth assistance to entrepreneur clients, (including pre-startup), that help the client increase sales, profits, jobs and long-term sustainable business practices. This is accomplished through in-depth training, one-to-one, no-cost counseling and following up with clients to find the resources that they need. Two successes from the past year show the impact that the SBDC can have on the state’s economy. CardioRisk Laboratories Although Todd Eldredge knew his company was saving lives, it didn’t hit home until he went home. Eldredge, president and CEO of Salt Lake City-based CardioRisk Laboratories, took the company’s equipment with him to Thanksgiving dinner one year to screen his brother, Brian, for plaque in his arteries. Eldredge was surprised to find a dangerous build-up of plaque and immediately got his brother to a doctor. Without fast diagnosis and quick treatment, Eldredge said his brother likely would have died. So it was personal when Eldredge wanted to find a way to make CardioRisk’s procedure, a way to find artery disease using ultrasound technology, more accessible to patients. Instead of just guessing at the risk of heart disease, the procedure, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) screening, lets patients see whether disease is already an issue. Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report • www.business.utah.gov
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