Small Business Development Center Helps Businesses Access 1.6 Million in Aid

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the College of Business has helped 160 Southeast Idaho Businesses since the shut down began in March.  Ann Swanson and Claudia Allen have been working remotely, helping small businesses manage the COVID-19 crisis. 

The Southeast Idaho SBDC has coached and educated small businesses on applying for Disaster Loan Assistance, the Paycheck Protection Program, Idaho Business Grants, and unemployment insurance.  In that past six weeks, that amounts to over 1.6 million of aid in the hands of Southeast Idaho businesses. 

Statewide, the Idaho SBDC program has help businesses secure 23.4 million in aid, helped 1,217 clients with COVID-19 assistance, and supported the retention of 1,866 jobs.  Additionally, ISU SBDC director, Ann Swanson, has been part of a state-wide task force that continues to produce free, public webinars on a variety of disaster management topics.  https://idahosbdc.org/covid-19-business-resources/covid-19-trainings-and-webinars/.

Since the beginning of March, the national SBDC network has served about half as many businesses as are typically served in a full year.  Based on estimates from 50 programs reporting, America’s SBDCs have participated in over 3,800 webinars, helped more than 335,000 people, offered 250,000 hours of consulting/advising/coaching services to 120,000 clients, and helped businesses obtain $1 billion in capital.

The SBDC is tax payer funded to provide no cost consulting and low-cost training to any small business. Reach the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the ISU College of Business at swanann@isu.edu or visit idahosbdc.org.