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Small Business Development Centers (SBDC
The Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC) mission is to strengthen Utah’s economic fabric and quality of life by facilitating the success and prosperity of small business endeavors. The Utah SBDC is a network of business consultants, trainers and educators and support staff operating statewide out of Utah’s state colleges and universities, including: College of Eastern Utah - Blanding and Price, Davis Applied Technology College, Dixie State College St. George, Salt Lake Community College - statewide host and Salt Lake service center, Southern Utah University - Cedar City, Snow College - Ephraim, Utah Valley State College - Orem, Utah State University - Logan and Vernal, Weber State University. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The USBDC serves the following major Utah clients: 1. Consultations on the feasibility of new business ideas: one-on-one consultations, specialized knowledge as needed to satisfy unusual requests, and online feasibility consultations available. 2.Consultations for those having problems managing their business: accounting, marketing, research, business plans (including cash flow), budgets, and management and operations. 3.Consultations for those whose business is ready for expansion and growth, and is now in need of capital, whether debt or equity by providing : knowledge of loan programs (including guarantees), knowledge of how to help develop a business plan, and knowledge of the process of applying for credit and gaining approval for loans 4.Provide entrepreneur training in ways our clients can use, including specialized training in management, HR, accounting & bookkeeping, leadership, strategic planning, and business software. 5.Actively participating in the development of each community served, by being an active participant in the chamber and local and state economic development efforts.
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Success Story:
Lincoln Environmental Services
Lincoln Environmental Services began in the spring of 1994 after Gary Baur contacted a former high school friend, James “Terry” Grover, to see if he would be interested in starting a business based on hazardous materials recovery/ remediation. James Grover was excited about the idea and they both set up goals on how and when to get the business started.
The primary function of their business was to target over the road (OTR) accidents or incidents involving hazardous materials and petroleum spills.
Terrell F. Bird, President RCIUtah, inc. dba Risk Control
Utah is a great place to do business because there exists quite a few resources to help the small business owner to succeed. The SBDC portion of the SBA sponsored by Salt Lake Community College has been a great source of help and council. There are also some of the state agencies who offer low cost classes on accounting and bookkeeping. The SBDC has been the best resource to me because of the counseling I have received in dealing with some of the complexities and difficulties which can cause a lot of grief to the small business owner. Since their counselors have “been there before,” they can provide practical suggestions as to the best way to proceed. But the overall attitude in the state is definitely “pro small business.”
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (SBDC)
The first year the business captured gross income of $107,000 which was enough to keep the business going. Each succeeding year brought more growth and increased revenues. A strategic partnership between Brett’s Towing and Lincoln Environmental Services further expanded the success of Gary and James. Because of this alliance they were able to construct a winning bid in 1998 to provide the U.S. Air Force for an emergency response team related to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Program at Hill Air Force Base (HAFB). That initial contract was signed in June of 1999 and lasted for five years. The contract was then extended for one year during which another winning bid was written giving James and Gary another five year revenue stream.
The project was not with out its challenges though. For instance, one of the challenges Lincoln Environmental Services had to overcome in order to receive this contract was a revamped accounting system which followed “cost accounting” principles. James and the company CPA understood the basic meaning and intent of this prerequisite yet they were unable to successfully implement this requirement on their own. One of the auditors with the Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) suggested using the Small Business Administration for guidance regarding “cost accounting”. This suggestion proved to be just what they needed.
Terry said “Beverly King, who works at the Small Business Development Center at Weber State University, was the counselor assigned to solve Lincoln’s “cost accounting” problem. To say that her contribution was staggering is understating what she contributed to the company. Beverly’s prior experience as an accountant with another large government contractor lent itself to our situation perfectly. She understood where the government wanted to go with the “cost accounting” requirement. She, in conjunction with the CPA’s office, altered our accounting system to provide all the information required in a timely and efficient manner. In addition, Beverly has continually provided excellent counsel regarding recurring questions Lincoln Environmental has received from DFAS.”
Terry also said “Beverly King’s contributions are a large part of our business success as a federal contractor. Her efforts and guidance are a direct reflection of our success in re-bidding the current contract with the Air Force.” Revenues from the HAFB contract alone are currently over $500,000 annually. James and Gary know that without the help of their local SBDC their success would have been slower and more difficult.
Program Metrics:
Key measures used to monitor performance and impacts are: clients counseled, training classes offered, people trained.
James “Terry” Grover, Lincoln Environmental Services.
Note the number of training sessions was normalized for 2007 to reflect normalized number of training sessions, there was a change in the way we report classes between 2006 and 2007.
