News Releases
News from Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Contact: William Carter, state director, Oregon Small Business Development
Center Network,
(541)463-5250
for release June 21, 2004
Study finds small business development centers make a positive difference
EUGENE - A study completed for the State of Oregon by an independent research firm finds that despite Oregon's struggling economy, Oregon's Small Business Development Centers continue to have a direct, positive impact on the businesses they assist. Assisted businesses created 3,300 new jobs in 2003 and paid more than $53,000,000 in new wages. Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) assist over 6,400 small business owners each year.
Small firms with 50 or fewer employees represent 96 percent of Oregon's businesses and employ 49 percent of its private work force. Campbell DeLong Resources, Inc. of Portland conducted the study employing a telephone methodology to interview clients served by organizations funded through the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department. Over 80 percent of small businesses assisted by the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department are reached through the Small Business Development Centers.
In addition to studying the performance of each program, the evaluators also examined how these programs and other state supported efforts responded to small business needs and whether they did so in a way that added value to Oregon's economy.
According to the Small Business Program Survey & Assessment Report, the Small Business Development Center Program received excellent marks for quality and service. The Final Report stated: "Ratings for both importance and quality of the services are consistently high," and "clients give programs credit for their ability to take positive actions." One of the more impressive findings was, " the businesses credit the services with helping them stay in business." Overall clients credit the services they received with having a major positive impact on their ability to improve and/or expand their business by hiring new employees, opening for business, improving profitability or productivity, or increasing sales.
William Carter, state director of the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network, says, "It's gratifying when our clients tell independent evaluators of their satisfaction with the services they receive and when we know that the service we give is making a positive impact on Oregon's economy."
The Oregon Legislature established the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network in 1983. Twenty centers around the state -- 16 at community colleges, and three at universities -- provide key services to Oregon's small businesses including business counseling, training, and referrals to other vital resources and services. The Small Business International Trade Center operated out of the Portland Small Business Development Center provides assistance to businesses statewide. For more information or to locate the Small Business Development Center nearest you, contact the Network office at (541)463-5250.
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