SUNY Celebrates 40 Years of Financially Uplifting New York State’s Economy Through the Small Business Development Center Network
April 2, 2025
The New York SBDC Has Impacted More Than Half a Million Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Through Advisement and Funding Since Its Creation
The 2024 Annual Report is Available Here
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today celebrated the impact of the New York Small Business Development Centers (New York SBDC) for their 40 years of service. The centers empower entrepreneurs through one-on-one no-cost business advisement, training, and research that fuels New York State's economic growth. Last year alone, the New York SBDC assisted 948 new business starts and served 19,451 clients with 72,651 counseling hours. Since its program inception, half a million entrepreneurs and small business owners have been supported through 1-on-1 advisement, education, and research services, which led to the creation of 140,120 jobs, a total of 165,071 jobs saved, and economic impact to New York State of nearly $9 billion.
The New York SBDC is administered by SUNY and hosted at 20 different higher education institutions across New York State, helping to link learning institutions with an expansive statewide small business network. The SBDC provides comprehensive support across all industries—including technology, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and artificial intelligence—guiding businesses through every stage of their lifecycle, from startup and expansion to succession planning.
"Over the course of its 40-year history, Small Business Development Centers have become a fundamental building block to New York State's small business and entrepreneurial community," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY is committed to fostering economic development across the state and we are proud to see the impact of this program on businesses like those of SUNY alum and entrepreneur Leighton Blackwood. With SBDC support, he expanded the business he started on the Binghamton University campus and opened a new off-campus location this year. Among the many small business successes supported by the SBDC this year are Precious Moment Preschool & Daycare, served by the Albany Center; Smart Health LLC, assisted by the Bronx Center; and Academy of Theatre Arts, supported by the Buffalo Center—just a few of the thousands benefiting from the program's impact."
Sonya Smith, State Director at New York SBDC said, "In our 40th anniversary year, 2024 was a time of action at the SBDC—building on the legacy of our founders, alumni, and dedicated network to drive small business success across New York. As the state's most expansive small business network, we are nationally accredited and held to rigorous impact goals—ensuring every business we help launch, every job we create, and every investment we secure strengthens communities and fuels economic growth for New York State."
"SBDC-supported businesses have an 80% five-year survival rate—far exceeding the 50% national average—while experiencing 15-30% higher sales growth and creating nearly five more jobs than those that go it alone. This year's annual report highlights client businesses across the state that exemplify this success. As we look ahead, we remain committed and driven to expand our reach and impact for New York's entrepreneurs," Smith added.
Malinda Diffee, Owner, Precious Moments Preschool & Daycare, said, "Working with the SBDC was instrumental in helping us secure the financing needed to expand our daycare. Their guidance on creating a comprehensive business plan, financial projections, and navigating grant applications gave us the confidence and tools to succeed. Thanks to their support, we were able to close on a new property and take the next big step in growing our business."
Dr. Charles C. Esenwa, Founder, Smarts Health LLC, said, "The SBDC went above and beyond by sharing a wealth of resources with me; valuable and trusted resources that truly helped my business grow. Moreover, the SBDC clearly understood my challenges and continue to provide me with continuous support for my business and targeted growth opportunities."
Dina Slawson, Owner and Artistic Director, Academy of Theatre Arts, said, "Working with SBDC is always a positive and productive experience for my business. They go above and beyond to understand our needs and deliver solutions that significantly help our business in both crisis and growth. Their professionalism, expertise, and dedication make every process we go through smooth and stress-free. I am incredibly grateful for the work and dedication they have shown Academy of Theatre Arts since we first opened our doors in 2002."
About the New York Small Business Development Center
The New York Small Business Development Centers (NYSBDC) are the most expansive small business network in New York State. The NYSBDC provides no-cost, confidential 1-on-1 business advisement, training, and research to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
It is a joint federal and state economic development organization administered by the State University of New York (SUNY) that operates 20 regional small business centers in all of New York's ten economic development regions. These centers, hosted at SUNY, CUNY, Pace University, and St. Thomas Aquinas College, link higher education to small businesses. Additionally, the SBDC has over 70 satellite locations with community partners like chambers of commerce, EDCs, IDAs, and incubators. It is primarily funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Learn more at nysbdc.org.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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