LEGISLATIVE BRIEF
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER SUPPORT Ensuring Texas’ small business thrive through start and scale-up support, job creation and access to capital.
FUNDING REQUEST (continued–no increase) $3,355,323 per year; $6,710,646 per biennium
Overview The State of Texas provides small business and community economic development resources through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. SBDC programs in each of the state’s four regions are administered by a college or university: The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas Tech University (TTU), University of Houston (UH) and Dallas College. UTSA has managed the delivery of SBDC services throughout the 79 counties of Central, South and West Texas since 1987. In addition, the Texas South-West SBDC Network, which focuses on urban, rural and border communities, provides faculty and students the ability to leverage their academic and professional experiences to provide small business and community economic development. This includes core small business assistance, targeted efforts such as promoting HUB procurement opportunities, outreach, the scale-up of underserved businesses and community engagement. Specialized SBDC expertise is also available to support foreign direct investment, international trade, government contracting, technology commercialization, cybersecurity preparedness and compliance, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and use, and rural business development throughout the region.
The Challenge Small businesses across the region are turning to the SBDCs for assistance on everything from evaluating supply chains, addressing workplace safety, seeking financial recovery strategies and enhancing cybersecurity and AI. The need for services is outpacing available resources. UTSA and affiliate hosts will be coordinating with SBDC Administrators across the State to request additional appropriations to support the demand for these SBDCs and Texas South-West SBDC Network services.
SBDC Client: La Luce Cristallina, an advanced materials manufacturing company in Austin, TX
For More Information Michael Gonzalez, CEcD Associate State Director, Texas South-West SBDC Network o: 210.458.2450 m: 956.206.9060 michael.gonzalez2@utsa.edu Cliff Paredes Executive Director, Texas South-West SBDC Network o: 210.458.2742 cliff.paredes@utsa.edu Jason Hassay UTSA Government Relations o: 210.458.5102 m: 512.413.9598 jason.hassay@utsa.edu Albert Carrisalez UTSA Government Relations o: 210.458.5138 m: 210.452.7557 albert.carrisalez@utsa.edu Updated January 28, 2025