For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Contact: Holly Liapis; Holly.Liapis@suny.edu; 518-320-1311
Albany – The Staten Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2017 Excellence and Innovation Award Winner for both the New York District as well as SBA’s Region II, which includes all districts in New York State, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Staten Island SBDC is one of 24 regional centers across the state that are part of the New York SBDC.
This award honors an SBDC service center for excellence in providing value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovation. Nearing their 25th anniversary, the Staten Island SBDC has assisted more than 8,100 businesses, helping them invest more than $174 million in the area’s economy, and creating or saving more than 5,400 jobs.
“We are honored to receive this recognition on not only a state level but a regional level as well,” said Staten Island Director Dean L. Balsamini. “The staff consists of a talented group of professionals who deliver extensive services to our clients and have a strong passion for serving the community.”
“Since there are only 10 nationwide regional winners, this signifies that our Staten Island team is one of the 10 best among 1,000 centers throughout the country,” said SBDC State Director James King. “This is a tribute to Dean and his staff for their dedication and commitment to providing outstanding service and support to small businesses throughout your region.”
“The SBDC delivers extensive value added services to the small business community and enhances the College of Staten Island‘s objective to be an integral part of the community, not apart from the community,” said CSI President William J. Fritz. “I commend them for this effort.”
“Dean and his team, with the support of the New York SBDC, have a demonstrated history of unparalleled excellence and innovation in their services to the Borough,” said Ken Iwama, Vice President for Economic Development, Continuing Studies and Government Relations.
About the New York Small Business Development Center
The NY SBDC, administered by The State University of New York (SUNY), has 24 regional service centers located throughout the New York State on SUNY, City University of New York (CUNY) and private university campuses. Since inception in 1984, the SBDC has provided small business advisement services to more than 374,000 New Yorkers. The SBDC also provides training and business research to existing business owners and entrepreneurs. SBDC clients have invested more than $6 billion in NY, impacting more than 165,000 jobs.
The SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, local communities, and host campuses. As a result of this leveraged support, the SBDC staff provides confidential one-on-one business advisement services at no direct cost to the citizens and entrepreneurs of New York. For more information about the SBDC, visit www.nysbdc.org.
About The State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, with 64 college and university campuses located within 30 miles of every home, school and business in the state. In 2015-16, SUNY served nearly 1.3 million students, including nearly 600,000 in credit bearing courses and programs and more than 700,000 through continuing education and community outreach programs. SUNY students and faculty across the state make significant contributions to research and discovery, resulting in nearly $1 billion of externally-sponsored activity each year. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree are SUNY alumni. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.
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