Mission
The mission of the network of Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) is to provide entrepreneurs and small business owners with the knowledge needed to make smart decisions and prosper.
Program History
The Small Business Development Center at IUP was begun in 1986, but was only recognized as part of the statewide system of SBDCs in 2003 when it became part of the statewide network. Now IUP is one of eighteen Small Business Development Centers in Pennsylvania and is an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers. Additionally, the IUP SBDC is part of an extended array of business assistance services available through the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology. These services are collectively known as the Management Services Group (MSG), and access to the expertise and personnel that are part of that group give IUP a unique ability to assist businesses across a broad range of needs.
The IUP SBDC provides consulting services and educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a small business. From helping aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses, to helping small firms expand, to providing the information every business person needs to make critical decisions, the SBDC is the resource entrepreneurs in all industry sectors can turn to for helphelp that can make the difference between success and failure.