(Serving Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, Warren, Bergen & Somerset Counties)

About Us

The New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) at Fairleigh Dickinson University, formerly known as the Northwest New Jersey SBDC, is part of a national network of university- and college-based centers that provide expert business counseling and educational resources to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

By leveraging the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the New Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development, Rutgers Business School, and other public and private partners, the center plays a vital role in fostering business growth and economic development across Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon, and Warren counties.

Nearly all of our services are provided at no cost through funding from federal, state, and local grants, as well as other contributions from the private sector. All business counseling is delivered one-on-one and is completely confidential.

Meet the Regional Director at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Matt Wells, Regional Director

Matthew Wells rejoins the SBDC network and brings an expansive small business background to the NJSBDC at Fairleigh Dickinson University in the regional center in Northwest New Jersey.

Prior to being named Director of the NJSBDC at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Wells assisted small businesses as a Senior Consultant with the Central Region SBDC in his hometown of St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is here, he acted as the center’s primary consultant and special project lead, providing prospective entrepreneurs, newly formed or established businesses guidance on startup, growth, and expansion. Largely, assisting clients who were seeking commercial loans draft business plans and financial projections, offering feasibility of concepts, providing strategic management/operations/marketing consultation, navigating internal and external business environments, and leading several detailed analysis projects, one of which was for the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development on the UAS industry. He was also involved in several turnaround projects at the request of local lenders to save businesses in financial trouble. Before joining the SBDC, Wells served as Director of the Microloan Program, a university ran microlending program offered through Saint Cloud State University. He spearheaded the rebuilding and restructuring of this specialized program that focused on micro-entrepreneurs who typically are underserved by traditional financial institutions. Also, Wells brings his small business ownership experience to Northwest New Jersey. Established in 2000, Wells was a Co-Owner/operator of Bowling Innovations, LLC a small family retail and service business that was built from the ground up and successfully sold in 2015. Simultaneously, he brings extensive theoretical and analytical experience from his educational pursuits, being awarded degrees in Business Management and History, culminating in a Master of Business Administration from Herberger Business School, an AACSB Accredited institution since 1976.  

Contact Us

The Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) at Fairleigh Dickinson University offers training and counseling to small business owners and entrepreneurs. For information, please complete our Consulting Request Form.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

2025 Holiday Calendar

January 1, 2025: New Year’s Day
January 20, 2025: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
April 18, 2025: Good Friday
May 26, 2025: Memorial Day
July 4, 2025: Independence Day
September 1, 2025: Labor Day
November 27–28, 2025: Thanksgiving Holiday
December 25, 2025: Christmas Day (observed)

Summer Hours:
The office will be closed on Fridays from May 16 to August 1, 2025. However, clients will have Remote support available to assist them during this period.

We are located at:

Fairleigh Dickinson University
Located Inside The Mansion (Hennessy Hall), Office Suite C4
285 Madison Avenue
M-MS1-05, Madison, NJ 0794

Satellite / Affiliate Offices: 

Main Street Business Alliance Office | 214 Main Street, Suite A, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Phone: (201) 692-2236 | Email: SDBCinfo@fdu.edu