Governor Tim Walz declared March 20 as Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day in Minnesota, recognizing the vital support Minnesota's statewide network of regional SBDC offices provide, alongside more than 1,000 SBDC offices nationally. Minnesota's SBDC network contains nine regional offices along with 35 satellite locations that are strategically aligned with a variety of host partners that work toward building regional economies. The program is supported by federal, state and local funding.

Minnesota's SBDC offices offer professional expertise and guidance for small businesses at all levels, from budding entrepreneurs seeking help to launch, to established small businesses pursuing growth strategies.

More than 125 SBDC consultants with private sector experience serve Minnesota's SBDC centers, providing no-cost, confidential counseling to help small businesses address challenges and thrive. Consulting services include business plan development, finance, accounting, marketing, human resources, operations, strategic planning, manufacturing, succession planning and more.

In addition, SBDC directors and consultants judge and promote a variety of startup competitions, mentor participants and leverage relationships to build communities. They also cultivate student engagement across Minnesota's university and college systems – bringing in students as advisors, interns and collaborators for real-world experience.

Last year, Minnesota SBDC consultants achieved a 95% client satisfaction rate providing 31,000 hours of professional consulting to almost 4,400 businesses, including 1,044 BIPOC-owned businesses and 2,256 women-owned businesses. These efforts supported the development of 220 new businesses and the creation or retention of 14,600 jobs, helped small businesses access $116.5 million in new capital investments -- including $7 million for BIPOC-owned businesses -- and supported more than $232 million in small business revenue growth.

This year we're especially proud of our Northeast SBDC at The Northland Foundation in Duluth, named Minnesota's 2023 Center of Excellence and Innovation award recipient and recognized as an SBA regional awardee. It's a recognition of the hard work SBDC staff undertake to help our clients every day.

Small businesses have a big impact on state and local economies and are essential to community vibrancy. They comprise 99.4% of the state's registered businesses and employ about 75% of the state's workers. SBDCs are an essential collaboration tool that engages and energizes small businesses to develop their business models in their respective communities – bringing together partners, collaborators and stakeholders to work together.

Over the last 10 months as the Minnesota SBDC State Director, I have been able to watch firsthand the efforts and accomplishments of our SBDC regional teams as they work tirelessly daily with entrepreneurs. Their passion and commitment to work side-by-side with all entrepreneurs to realize their dreams and potentials does not go unnoticed and I commend them on all the successes over the last year. From Thief River Falls to Winona, and across Minnesota, our SBDC teams are here to assist with no-cost consulting and professional expertise. This is why we are not only the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but also the state of small business. 

To learn more about SBDCs, and to find one nearest you, visit DEED's Small Business Development Centers page.