SBDC no-cost confidential advising helps businesses succeed

SBDC no-cost confi dential advising helps businesses succeed

Washington SBDC Advisor Alan Stanford (left) speaks with Research Intern Ian Fisher.

If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur with a cando attitude (what other kind is there?), the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is ready to help.

The Washington SBDC, funded locally by EDASC through 2021, has been providing one-to-one, no-cost, confidential business advising to small business owners and entrepreneurs in communities across the state since 1980.

When you work with one SBDC advisor, you have access to the expertise and experience of more than 30 business advisors whose primary goal is to help you succeed. Google searches and Youtube videos can only get you so far. SBDC advisors are here to help you at every phase of business development and in just about any industry.

Over the past three years, SBDC advisors have assisted more than 454 business owners who sought one-onone technical assistance through the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County.

“SBDC has been invaluable in providing resources to help us navigate the Covid crisis thru webinars, workshops, and one on one counseling via zoom and email. Their team of advisors gave us the ability to navigate through our balance sheets and make good decisions going forward.”

Rural Skagit County business established in 2012; became SBDC client in 2019

Over that same three-year period, SBDC clients reported receiving nearly $25 million in funding to grow or sustain their businesses. With SBDC assistance, entrepreneurs started 24 new businesses and business owners said they were able to save or create 524 jobs.

Here are just a few of the comments that clients have made on recent client impact and satisfaction surveys. Note the comments are anonymous per confidentiality guidelines.

HOW WE’RE FUNDED

The Washington SBDC is hosted by Washington State University and is administered through a cooperative agreement between WSU and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Funding is provided by WSU, other institutions of higher education, economic development associations and civic and business groups. These community-based funds are then matched on a 1-to1 basis with federal money from the SBA.