If you haven't heard of them, it's because they don't spend money advertising. They just do their job. They provide business plan guidance, computer training and help small companies regroup rather than fold up when an industry is phased out in a region. The result is a remarkable track record. SBDC clients generated 67,800 new jobs in 1998.
Small businesses helped by SBDCs have a higher survival rate than other small companies.
Yet, Mr. Bush has proposed cutting the SBDC program by 14 percent. This couldn't come at a worse time. As our economy slows, and more workers face lay-offs and early retirement, business startups actually increase. More people begin their own companies when the economy is bad than when it is good. Historically, this has meant SBDCs have seen their client load increase as well.