Clark University SBDC Wins Massachusetts and New England SBDC Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has named the Central Regional Small Business Development Center led by John Rainey, Regional Director, the winner of the 2016 SBDC Service Center Excellence and Innovation Award for Massachusetts.
“Under Mr. Rainey’s direction, the center provided over 3,300 hours of business advisory services to 649 clients,” said Robert Nelson, SBA Massachusetts District Director. “This data is important because it translates into the creation and retention of over 1,200 jobs for the Commonwealth. These accomplishments underscore the reason why they are being recognized not only in Massachusetts, but for the New England region“.
For over 35 years, the Clark University SBDC has been consistently exceeding their goals set by both MSBDC and SBA. Strong partnerships with clients, banks, legislators, government agencies and Clark University have been at the center of their success. Last year, three of the Small Business Week award winners were clients from the Clark SBDC.
“We are honored that the Clark SBDC has received this prestigious award”, said Rainey. “I am proud that our dedicated team is being recognized for their efforts helping entrepreneurs achieve success”.
Although the center provides many traditional services for helping entrepreneurs grow and succeed, they also deliver additional services that distinguish themselves from other SBDCs throughout the state, including:
- Art Martin, Senior Business Advisor and Technology Specialist at the Clark SBDC was hired 2 years ago and is the only advisor in the state system with this role. Art has recently been teaming up with our Government Sales Advisor and they have been running SBIR seminars throughout the state, helping entrepreneurs get SBIR Awards.
- 10 outreach locations are maintained throughout Central Massachusetts, making it easy for clients to meet with a business advisor.
- The Center actively assists the State Office with the New England Professional Development program, a collaborative effort between the six New England states – by teaching core competency modules, sharing best practices, as well as mentoring new advisors.
The Central Regional Small Business Development Center will be honored along with the other Massachusetts Small Business Week 2016 award winners at a luncheon event at the Westborough Doubletree on May 6, 2016.
About SBA National Small Business Week:
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small business, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.
About Massachusetts Small Business Development Centers:
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance as well as strategic, marketing and operational analysis. In addition, low cost educational training programs are offered across the state targeted to the needs of small business. The MSBDC network is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development and a consortium of higher education institutions including UMASS Amherst and the Isenberg School of Management. For more information on MSBDC, please visit: www.msbdc.org.
