Posted: Monday, March 9, 2009 12:26 pm

The Messenger 03.09.09



The Association of Small Business Development Centers recently reaffirmed the accreditation of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) network — comprised of 15 offices hosted by the state university and community college system of Tennessee.

The reaccreditation is effective until 2012 and recognizes the centers, including the center hosted by Dyersburg State Community College, as organizations dedicated to high quality economic development.

Each SBDC service center provides start-up and existing businesses with information, resources and technical assistance necessary to help build their business venture.

“Being reaccredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers brings more good news than simply receiving statewide funding,” said Dr. Jamie Frakes, director of the Small Business Development Center at Dyersburg State. “The process has given us an opportunity to assess the quality of our counseling, training and the level of technical assistance we are providing to our clientele. As an economic development outreach program for Dyersburg State Community College, it is good for us to assess our program and make changes where possible so that we can assess how well we are living up to the mission of the college.”

DSCC’s Small Business Development Center is in its 24th year of operation. Over the past 10 years, the Dyersburg State SBDC has conducted over 2,700 counseling sessions to over 1,470 clients in a 14-county service area. Last year alone, 350 businesses received training or counseling from the SBDC.

DSCC’s Small Business Development Center also partners with area Chambers of Commerce to present workshops and programs for local businesses. Last fall, 17 entrepreneurs graduated from the six-week Jump Start entrepreneurial training program. Of those graduates, seven applied and received start-up grant funds from the Delta Regional Authority. In a partnership with the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce, the TSBDC offered a Small Business Survival in Rough Economic Times program to provide insight into methods and manners of business management.

For more information about DSCC’s Small Business Development Center, contact Frakes at (731) 286-3201.