A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo program that provides professional business advising and expertise to small business entrepreneurs statewide has received another five years of accreditation by America’s Small Business Development Centers. The Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center (Hawaiʻi SBDC) is a partnership program between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and UH Hilo.
The accreditation will allow Hawaiʻi SBDC to continue to assist local budding entrepreneurs and businesses with ongoing SBA funding. The program also receives funding through the state Legislature to provide matching funds for the federal program.
The accreditation process assessed performance on a wide range of key indicators: leadership, planning, customers (clients), measurement, human resources, operations and results.
“As a university-hosted program, we are naturally allied with the resources of higher education, and are a conduit for the forces of innovation and creation through encouragement and mentoring in support of those with the entrepreneurial spirit,” said Cathy Wiltse, Hawaiʻi SBDC state director. “Hawaiʻi SBDC is focused on client satisfaction and assisting businesses to thrive or begin their entrepreneurial journey.”
Giving new entrepreneurs a head start
In the past year alone, Hawaiʻi SBDC has served more than 1,000 clients, created more than 300 jobs, and started 90 businesses through providing business advising and expertise to clients.
Some of the services offered include business workshops and consultations from professional business advisors that give in-depth analysis of clients’ business plans and development. The services are open to early stage entrepreneurs as well as those with established businesses.
Go to UH Hilo Stories to learn more about Hawaiʻi SBDC and the services it offers.
—A UH Hilo Stories article written by Alyssa Mathews, a freshman at UH Hilo.
