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CONSULTING

BVSBDC Provides SBA Guaranteed &
Conventional Loan Assistance to New
and Existing Businesses.

LOANS

BVSBCD Provides Low-Cost Business
Seminars & Workshops to New and
Existing Businesses.

WORKSHOPS

BVSBCD Provides Low-Cost Business
Seminars & Workshops to New and
Existing Businesses.
 

ABOUT THE SBDC

The United States Congress initiated the SBDC's as a pilot program in 1977 to deter the default rate on government guarantee loans. In 1980, the program was formally authorized and written into public law in Section 21 of the Small Business Act. The oversight agency for the SBDC is the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was established in 1953 and is the primary advocate of small business within the federal government. Although the SBA provides many services to small business, currently it is best known for its guaranteed loan programs.

Today in the National SBDC Network, there are 58 state or regional program offices operating over 1,100 full-time SBDC locations and thousands of additional satellite locations. The National SBDC Network employees approximately 4,500 highly skilled professionals. The SBDC is present in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

Most states and territories operate a statewide SBDC program. The state program is administered by a single host organization whose responsibility is to provide services throughout the state by strategically locating full-service SBDC offices or through a "circuit rider" program.

In Texas however, the SBDC program is divided into four autonomous regional programs. These four regional offices reflect the U. S. Small Business Administration District Service areas in Texas. Host institutions under the guidance of an Executive Director administer each regional office.

SBDC REGIONS

HOST INSTITUTIONS
  • University of Houston Gulf Coast SBDC

  • North Texas SBDC

  • Northwest Texas SBDC

  • South Texas Border SBDC
  • University of Houston

  • Dallas Community College System

  • Texas Tech University

  • University of Texas - San Antonio

If you are not in our service area, please check the UH SBDC Network listing here: www.sbdcnetwork.uh.edu/centers.htm

 

Texas Centers: http://asbdc-us.org/searchResults.php

The national listing is available from the Small Business Administration: www.sba.gov/sbdc/


When Congress established the SBDC program, it was given a line item in the federal budget. Being the oversight agency for SBDC activity, SBA administers the flow of funds. This means funding flows from the federal budget to SBA who in turn holds a competitive cooperative agreement with each regional program office and in our case, the University of Houston. The University of Houston contracts with host institutions to provide services in a grass roots effort to provide free professional business consulting services and low cost training in the 32 county area.

 

The host institution for the BV-SBDC is the Research Valley Partnership without which the BV-SBDC could not operate. The Research Valley Partnership provides match funds to the BV-SBDC program and the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce, another vital partner, provides the BV-SBDC with free office space and facilities for training.

In addition to our primary focus of business consulting and training, listed below are special services that the BV-SBDC offers:

 

SBA and Conventional Loan Assistance
The Brazos Valley SBDC will assist you in preparing the necessary documents to apply for either a Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loan or a conventional loan.

Business Resource Library
The Brazos Valley SBDC maintains a resource library that contains publications, directories, statistical information, and many other reference materials for gaining valuable business guidance. Reference materials include start-up manuals for different businesses. Other publications address legal structure, employment issues, accounting, franchises, marketing, government procurement, international trade and more. Our library resources also include videotapes and cassettes on a variety of topics which illustrate proven and successful entrepreneurs and techniques. To assist with specialized research, a computer with internet access is also available for use. The library is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can help you market your products and services to federal, state, county, and municipal governments. These agencies purchase billions of dollars worth of goods and services each year. However, many small businesses do not take advantage of these opportunities. Often they do not know how to access government contracts. PTAC can help you compete in the bidding process and aid in finding and researching bids and contract opportunities.

 

Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center
To maintain a competitive edge and keep up with increasing demand, manufacturers can take advantage of the expertise and assistance offered by the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC). TMAC's field engineers provide comprehensive and expert industrial engineering services to small and mid-sized manufacturers for a modest fee. Some of TMAC's services include: benchmarking and assessing operations, understanding and controlling operating costs, and more.

 

International Trade Center
The International Trade Center (ITC) helps small and medium-sized Texas companies explore and develop business opportunities in world markets. Through free one-on-one consulting and international business data, ITC will help navigate the international expansion of your business.

 
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Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.  The Brazos Valley SBDC is a business consulting and training center of the University of Houston Small Business Development Center Network.  The UH SBDC Network serves 32 counties in Southeast Texas.  SBDC programs are nondiscriminatory and available to individuals with disabilities.