Gil Goldberg, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Cleveland District office, awarded the Ohio SBDC @ Youngstown State University with SBA’s 2012 Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Award. This award honors a local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for its excellence in providing value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovation.

SBA administers the SBDC Program to provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners.  SBDCs offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations.

The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector and federal, state and local governments.  It enhances economic development by providing small businesses with management and technical assistance.   The SBDC of Ohio program was created in 1985 through a partnership between SBA and the Ohio Department of Development.   YSU serves as the award winner’s local host organization.