The infrastructure that supports Central Virginia SBDC

The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.

Since its founding, the SBA has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.

SBA support Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) as the local “boots on the ground” centers. Knowledgeable and connected to the communities they serve, the SBA values the effectiveness of local SBDC offices.

In 1977, the Small Business Development Centers began as a pilot program of the U.S. Small Business Administration in 8 states. The Virginia Small Business Development Center began as part of the Virginia Department of Economic Development in 1989. Since that time, the Virginia SBDC has grown to support 26 offices across the state of Virginia. The Virginia SBDC provides training, support, and resources to the state offices, connecting Virginia SBDCs to each other, the SBA, other state and federal resources and to America’s SBDCs.


George Mason University is the host and a major resource provider to Virginia SBDC; which, in turn, supports the local SBDC offices. George Mason University also houses the state network’s international trade executives. The international trade program benefits from a strong GMU trade curriculum, training leaders to assist businesses with assessment of international markets. 

 

America’s SBDC represents America’s nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) – the most comprehensive small business assistance network in the United States and its territories. America’s SBDC hosts the national SBDC conference and assists with collaboration among the nearly 1,000 local centers available to provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses.