Proclamation by Governor Murphy Cites March 18th as New Jersey Small Business Development Centers Day
Coronavirus Situation Changes SBDC Plans for Live Networking Events; instead Using Social Media Platforms, Training Webinars & Videos/Podcasts for Small Business Support
(Newark, NJ – March 17, 2020) – America’s SBDC New Jersey will join with the other 49 states’ SBDCs across the nation to celebrate SBDC Day on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Due to the situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the 12-center SBDC network – consistent with other SBDCs across the nation – will utilize social media platforms, virtual training sessions, podcasts and videos on March 18 #SBDCDay. Celebrating client success stories and promoting SBDC comprehensive assistance are important components for the national proclaimed SBDC Day. Nearly 1,000 offices nationally are collaborating to promote the core mission and highlight successful outcomes of the national America’s SBDC program via social media and other virtual business events. The national program assists up to 1,000,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses each year.
Governor Phil Murphy signed a Proclamation acknowledging #SBDCDay on March 18, 2020 and the economic impact of the SBDC program, joining other states’ governors nationally. NJSBDC clients will share their stories on how they were assisted to increase sales revenues, start new businesses, obtain procurement contracts and capital financing, enhance their business operations to the next level as well as create and save jobs.
The SBDC program influences the actions and decisions of entrepreneurs and small business owners, catalyzing economic development in communities across the U.S. and will provide support to small businesses during this public health and safety crisis.
“Our SBDC client success stories are abundant, both, statewide and nationally. In New Jersey, our 12 centers statewide and specialty programs like Technology Commercialization, E-Business, International Trade, Procurement, and Sustainability help clients start and grow business operations, attaining success,” said Brenda Hopper, NJSBDC network chief executive officer and state director.
“Our experts assist small business clients in navigating the ongoing challenges in starting and expanding their business development to the next stage of growth,” added Deborah Smarth, NJSBDC network chief operating officer and associate state director. “SBDC Day emphasizes the network’s small business assistance mission. Our efforts assist small business clients to achieve success, starting and growing business operations to create and save jobs.”
The SBDC national program is considered to be ‘boots on the ground’ for disaster assistance. As a result of potential impacts from the coronavirus on the small business community, the NJSBDC network will continue to assist small business owners in very key areas. The SBDC network’s experts will provide counseling/management consulting, business advisory assistance and training through online/virtual platforms and through telephone conversations as Centers located at different higher education institutions must abide by emergency policies at universities/colleges and state government to deal with the potential pandemic.
In state fiscal year 2018-2019, the 12-center NJSBDC network assisting small business owners in all 21 counties, provided more than 23,000 total counseling hours for 4,727 business clients and trained 7,098 individuals and small business clients at 491 training seminars statewide; in addition, 966 SBDC clients started a new business; 60% of all clients were established/existing businesses from diverse industry sectors with varying business life cycles and revenue levels. The NJSBDC helped its clients access $98 million in financing and create and save more than 15,000 jobs. Clients generated more than $1 billion in sales revenues, generating conservatively $60 million in sales tax revenues, notwithstanding additional small business tax revenues generated.
Some highlights of the March 18 #SBDCDay training webinars and social media efforts at SBDCs (12 regional centers) in New Jersey include:
• The NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College (Monmouth & Ocean counties), will sponsor its podcast, “Talk of Success.” The podcast features Marilyn Schlossbach, success award winner (2019), social entrepreneur, restaurateur, chef, etc. Schlossbach is the new Chair of the NJ Restaurant & Hospitality Association.
• The NJSBDC at Kean University (Union County) continues with its social media engagement concerning its Center services and focused initiatives.
• The NJSBDC at New Jersey City University (Hudson County) is holding a webinar, “Get Customers with Google” scheduled at 12 pm. Registration via this link.
• The NJSBDC of Northwest Jersey (Morris, Sussex, & Warren counties) is sponsoring webinars (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) on topics like: “Seven NJEDA Financial Resources for NJ Business;” “What Do they Really Want? Understanding and Getting the Best from All Generations in the Workplace;” “Building Success in Your Business through Trusted Relationships;” and “You’ve Been Breached – Next Steps.”
• The NJSBDC at Ramapo College of New Jersey (Bergen County) kicked off a prelude to #SBDC Day by sponsoring a Business Clinic on Saturday, March 14th, at Ramapo College of New Jersey; the clinic was also broadcast for further participation by small business owners concerning all the necessary steps in developing/growing a small business. In addition, the Center will be instructing a webinar on “How to Manage Your Business in a Crisis.”
• The NJSBDC at Raritan Valley Community College (Hunterdon & Somerset counties) is sponsoring a webinar, “Intro to WordPress,” scheduled for 6:00 pm on March 18th.
• The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Camden (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties) is sponsoring social media feeds, featuring some of its successful business clients to tell how they were assisted by the Camden-based Center.
• The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark (Essex County) is presenting a virtual video caravan program on social media platforms.
• The NJSBDC at Rutgers-New Brunswick (Middlesex County) is sponsoring a webinar on “Intellectual Property.”
• The NJSBDC at Stockton University (Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties) will present Facebook communications by successful clients of the Center, sharing their stories and why the clients “love” SBDC.
• The NJSBDC at The College of New Jersey (Mercer County) will instruct via webinar, “How to Start Your Business Now!” at 10:00 am. The same webinar will be presented in Spanish at 12:00 pm.
• The NJSBDC at William Paterson University (Passaic County) is launching social media posts, focused on SBDC services and how the Center assists small business clients as well as a video of testimonials.
