The New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SUNY Oswego celebrated its 20th anniversary with a luncheon and award ceremony on Thursday, April 8, 2004.
State Senator James Wright accepted an award in honor of his contributions to the Oswego branch of the SBDC.
“We’re very fortunate that Jim is a leader,” said SBDC Director Nancy Bellow. “He didn’t just see us for what we were; he saw us for what we could become and with that helped us establish the SBDC here in Oswego.”
“I understand who creates jobs and who creates wealth and it’s not government; it’s private sector,” said Sen. Wright. “Our job is to partner with you.”
The SBDC provides business advisement and training to individuals getting started in the business world or planning to expand their businesses in a new direction. It also provides managerial and technical advice.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful example of how partnerships not only work but thrive, especially in a community like ours where we need to pull together for economic prosperity,” said Carolyn Rush, Director of Regional Corporate and Community Services at SUNY Oswego.
According to business advisor Larry Perras, the SBDC has counseled 742 clients since the Oswego branch opened in June 2000, the economic impact of which was the creation – or salvation -- of 528 jobs and $14 million worth of investments in the community.
“Last year, (we) reported an economic impact of over $7-and-a-half million,” said Perras. “Now to put that in perspective, an SBDC in Central or Upstate New York, if that individual reports $2 million economic impact, that’s an extremely good year.”
Perras credited regional entrepreneurs and small business owners with making those figures possible.
The total New York State SBDC economic impact in 2002 was well over $250 million according to figures released by the organization.
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