Awards Given to Top Small Business Development Centers in the U.S.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 1999--

The Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC), at its annual meeting held Oct. 2-5 at the Town & Country Resort Hotel in San Diego, presented Star Performer awards to 10 Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in the U.S.

Five of the winning SBDCs were from the state of Georgia. They include the SBDCs in Decatur, Brunswick, Gainsville, Savannah and the Valdosta State University SBDC.

The five other SBDCs honored by the ASBDC included:

-- the University of Houston SBDC in Texas;

-- the Kilgore College SBDC in Texas;

-- the West Washington University SBDC in Washington; and

-- the Northland Pioneer College SBDC in Arizona.

The winners were honored for their excellence in consulting, client satisfaction and continuing education efforts, according to the ASBDC's Kathleen Kelly Riesett.

More than 1,100 SBDC experts attended the convention to learn the latest developments in e-commerce, fiscal management, marketing and technology. Guest speaker was Sen. Ted Stevens (D-Alaska).

Last year, more than 1,000 SBDCs in the U.S. helped more than 650,000 entrepreneurs grow their business with free consultation. Small businesses create more than 90 percent of new jobs in the U.S., said the ASBDC.

SBDCs in the U.S. represent partnerships between local educational institutions, the U.S. Small Business Administration, state governments and the private sector, said the ASBDC.