Center office from Fresno to downtown Merced to increase valuable support services to local small businesses and better connect with resources at the University of California, Merced, campus. The office officially opened Monday, Oct. 15. The Central CA SBDC Network provides professional and confidential consulting using local experts throughout the 14-county central California region.
Since 2003, the Central CA SBDC has assisted thousands of companies, from start-ups to established firms, with nocost consulting services, workshops and assistance in sourcing capital. This has helped create and retain more than 10,000 jobs, as well as creating more than $435 million in loans and equity. The Central California SBDC Network provides services to San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey, Stanislaus, Merced, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Tulare, Kern, Mono and Inyo counties.
Kurt Clark, a life-long Valley resident, serves as executive director of the Central CA SBDC Network. Clark has been involved with the SBDC for more than 18 years, previously serving for the past 15 years as director of Valley Sierra SBDC in Modesto.
“Like other cities in our region, Merced is home to many mission-driven small businesses and burgeoning venture startups. We’re proud to give them access to the consulting, training, and services they need to help them grow and succeed,” he said. “I’m so proud of our SBDC team and the dedication they provide to offer an array of critical resources that can benefit any small- to mid-sized business. Whether it’s working one-on-one with a consultant on strategic planning, financial analysis or sourcing funding, or coaching on marketing, social media or planning a startup, we’re here to help.”
As California’s economy continues to accelerate, Clark is enthusiastic that locating the Lead Center office in Merced will help expand the SBDC network to serve more small businesses and support job creation within Central California.
Sam Traina, the vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development at the UC Merced — which serves as the host university for the Central CA SBDC Network — is looking forward to the network’s evolution under Clark’s leadership.
“We are particularly pleased to have Kurt in the role as the new executive director of the regional SBDC network,” Traina said. “He has an incredible knowledge of the region. I am confident he will increase the impact of the SBDC throughout Central California.”
UC Merced opened in 2005 as the newest member of the University of California system, and is the youngest university to earn a Carnegie research classification. The fastest-growing university in the nation, UC Merced enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in campus construction and design and supports high-achieving and dedicated students from the underserved San Joaquin Valley and throughout California. The Merced 2020 Project, a $1.3 billion public-private partnership that is unprecedented in higher education, will nearly double the physical capacity of the campus and support enrollment growth to 10,000 students.
For more information about the Central CA SBDC Network, visit CentralCaSBDC.com. To request services, call 209-3861008 or email casbdc@ucmerced.edu.
Source: Central CA Small Business Development Center
