February 4, 2012

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Our Mission

The Mission of the Small Business Development Center at Kutztown University is to grow the economy of South Eastern and South Central Pennsylvania. The Kutztown University SBDC is one of 18 Small Business Development Centers in Pennsylvania and is an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers.

Our Vision

The Kutztown University SBDC provides consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their small business. SBDC consultants may work with entrepreneurs in confidential, one-to-one sessions to help them with a range of business issues including testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, investigating funding opportunities, and much more. SBDC educational programs serve to inform and assist entrepreneurs with the many decisions a new business owner faces. Program topics range from regulatory compliance issues to marketing tactics and are offered throughout the Kutztown University SBDC service territory with many offerings available online.

Program History

The Small Business Development Center at Kutztown University was begun in 1993. 

The Kutztown University SBDC provides general business consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a small business in Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks and Chester Counties.  The Kutztown University SBDC also offers specialty consulting in the areas of international marketing and government marketing in Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks and Chester Counties as well as York, Adams, Franklin and Cumberland Counties. From helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses, to helping small firms expand, to providing the information every business person needs to make critical decisions, the SBDC is the resource entrepreneurs in all industry sectors can turn to for help - help that can make the difference between success and failure.

Who We Are

The Small Business Development Center employs a full-time staff of professionals. Our business consultants have impressive credentials from a variety of universities around the country, but they also have practical experience with every stage of business - from pre-venture to multi-billion dollar companies. They bring a wealth of knowledge to our center in diverse industries. Our Consultants deliver a complete Business Assistance Program with specialty areas such as Government Procurement and International Trade.

Click here to review the Kutztown University SBDC staff biographies.

What can I expect from my consultant?

At your initial meeting, your consultant will review your business or proposal, determine a course of action and identify areas that both of you will be responsible for completing. Your consultant will then follow up with an engagement letter detailing your meeting and listing the items both of you will be working on, along with an estimated time frame for completion. While there is no charge for consulting services, the Kutztown SBDC consulting services differ from consulting firms' services because our clients very actively participate in the work. Generally, the Kutztown SBDC clients use consulting services to guide their process and their thinking; the clients do 80% of the work. The clients rely on the SBDC for guidance, ideas and feedback from a neutral source as well as for leading edge ideas and resources as they critique their own businesses.

Our Impact

		2009
Capital Formation
Total # of clients requesting funding		40
Total funding requested		$4,618,380
# of Clients/Approved amount		35 / 4,582,241
Government Contracts
# of Clients		441
Total # of Contracts		1024
Total Contract Worth		$172,379,663
# of Prime Contracts		674
Prime Contract Worth		$82,439,881
# of Subcontracts		350
Subcontract Worth		$89,393,782
Training Summary
# Conferences		36
# Conference Hours		93.5
# Participants		595
Total Training Hours		1,486
Jobs Created
Jobs Created		56
Jobs Saved		321
Additional Milestones
Completed Business plan		33
Did Not Go Into Business		2
Expanded a Business		1
Started a Business		16
Prepared Financial Statements		30
TCAP-SBIR/STTR Awards (technology grants)		9

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