Our Impact
Small business.
Big impact.
As big businesses topple under the economic strain and long-established companies shrink, there is a force that is buoyant, inventive, and thriving — and is the lifeblood of the state and the country: small businesses.
In fact, according to the Oregon Employment Department’s most recent Covered Employment & Wages report, Oregon’s 123,000 small businesses — those with fewer than 250 employees — retain 81 percent of the state’s workforce. And the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN) plays an essential role in this aspect of Oregon’s current and future economic vitality.
“If it wasn’t for them, I never would have gotten the loan for this new restaurant.”
—TOM OGAWA, OWNER
OGAWA’S JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Helping small businesses
grow big.
The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network is part of a successful and productive nationwide small business assistance program. Launched in 1983, it is a well established partnership between 17 community colleges, three regional universities, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Oregon Business Development Department.
Today, the Network offers business education classes and in-depth, one-on-one guidance to thousands of businesses and prospective entrepreneurs each year from 19 college- or university-sponsored locations throughout the state. These efforts result in healthy, plentiful, more successful businesses to keep Oregon’s economy going and growing; more jobs, sales, and tax revenue for the state; and more opportunity, diversity, and leverage in financially distressed communities.
Not just start-ups.
According to the U.S. SBA Office of Entrepreneurial Development 2007 Annual Report, OSBDCN ranks No. 8 in new business starts among all 63 SBDC Networks throughout the country.
And while 42 percent of the clients OSBDCN counseled last year were pre-venture entrepreneurs working on business plans and raising start-up capital, 58 percent were established businesses — 390 of these firms had 5–500 employees.
In fact, our Small Business Management program, which provides in depth, long-term instruction and guidance to established businesses, has helped participating businesses achieve an overall survival rate of more than 80 percent during the past 26 years.
Turning tools into innovation.
The OSBDCN gives Oregon entrepreneurs the tools and resources to turn their own innovative ideas into leading-edge, reputable, and successful businesses. Our services and programs provide clients with fundamental business skills such as finance, marketing, and human resources management. Additionally, we instruct and assist businesses with mission-critical strategies to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace. Such topics include research and development planning, social media marketing, blogging, Web site design, and e-commerce — everything they need to start, grow, and thrive within and beyond Oregon’s borders.
OSBDCN offers services within a number of advising categories. The 6,000 clients served in 2009 include both preventure and clients in business.
In 2012, OSBDCN provided confidential advice to over 5,500 businesses, which created and retained over 2000 jobs. Clearly, these businesses and their communities benefit from this support, guidance, and ongoing coaching.
To all who value Oregon’s small businesses:
Oregon’s small businesses have displayed remarkable resilience in spite of a severely challenging economy. Our Network has diligently assisted small businesses throughout the year, and our clients around the state have voiced their appreciation: 
“Without the guidance I’ve received from the SBDC, I would not be in business today.”
“I have learned so much about growing my business directly through my work with the SBDC.”
“I have found the SBDC to be an unconditional success for my business.”
“SBDCs are a key element in Oregon’s exit from the recession.”
“Since I started working with the SBDC my business has grown many times over.”
These clients are among the 6,000 Oregonians who have received guidance from our state’s Small Business Development Centers in 2012. For 26 years, Oregon’s Small Business Development Centers have served the most important contributors to our state’s economic vitality: the entrepreneurs who own small to mid-size businesses.
Through innovative programs, one-on-one mentoring, and adherence to best practices, the OSBDCN has become one of the leading SBDC Networks in the country, outperforming states with populations and funding considerably greater than Oregon’s.
Michael Lainoff, State Director
