SBA awards $1.8M grant to SC Small Business Development Center Network

The U.S. Small Business Administration renewed its’ grant to the South Carolina Small Business Development Center Network and provided $1.8 million to four universities in the state.

The University of South Carolina, Clemson University, South Carolina State University, and Winthrop University are the four Network Service Centers for SBDCs, spanning across 20 locations throughout the state. Grant funds are used to provide free business counseling assistance to aspiring and current entrepreneurs. In addition to free counseling, the SBDCs also provide a variety of workshops, trainings, and webinars.

“We are very grateful to our SBDC partners for equipping South Carolina entrepreneurs with the tools they need to start, grow, expand, and recover,” said Gregg White, District Director for the South Carolina District Office. “This past year, the SC SBDC network assisted over 22,000 clients in the state! They helped start 143 new businesses, and created and retained almost 4,000 jobs in South Carolina. They are a vital asset to the economic growth in our state, and to our district office.”

In 2020, the SC Small Business Development Centers network assisted more than four times the number of small businesses and entrepreneurs than in a typical year. SBDC clients in South Carolina obtained $77.1 million in capital formation, and captured $3.4 million in government contracts. The SC SBDC also expanded and enhanced numerous tools and services to address the changing needs of the small business community and focus on business recovery.

To learn more about the SC SBDC or to make an appointment with a counselor near you, visit scsbdc.com.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.