The Oregon Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network has been awarded national accreditation without conditions by America’s SBDC, its national association. Blue Mountain Community College hosts the local SBDC for Northeastern Oregon.
Every five years, SBDC networks throughout the country are required to go through an accreditation process with the Accreditation Committee of America’s SBDC, which represents the nationwide network of SBDCs. Nearly 1,000 SBDC service centers, like the one at BMCC, are hosted around the country at local colleges and universities and state economic development agencies. They are funded, in part, by the U.S. Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBDCs offer assistance to local businesses, such as business plan development, counseling, training and more.
“This accreditation without conditions is a wonderful accomplishment by the Oregon SBDC Network and reflects well on our BMCC Small Business Development Center,” said BMCC President Cam Preus. “This is a proud moment for all of those in Oregon’s SBDCs who have worked so hard to serve local small business communities for so many years.”
Last November, Oregon SBDC staff and advisors met with the accreditation team comprised of regional and state SBDC directors: Al Salgado, Southwest Texas SBDC (Team Lead), Michael Myhre, Florida SBDC, and Katie Sewell, Idaho SBDC. The accreditation process requires the state network to meet a rigorous set of Baldridge based accreditation standards developed and deployed in cooperation with the SBA.
Based on the on-site review, final report and presentation by the accreditation team, the Accreditation Committee voted at its Jan. 29 meeting to accept the recommendation of the team to fully accredit the Oregon SBDC Network with no conditions.
The Accreditation Committee stated in their letter, “Numerous examples of innovative thinking and actions are detailed within the reports, as well as a number of important recommendations for the Oregon SBDC to consider implementing. The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network is commended for both its dedication and commitment to the pursuit of continuous improvement.”
