California Small Business Development Center Program Reaps Year's Successes.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 1996--Small Business Development Centers--the network of full-service centers and specialized offices for fledgling California companies -- helped drive the state's economic recovery with a record year in 1995, California Trade and Commerce Agency Secretary Julie Meier Wright announced today.

"California's SBDCs help stimulate the economy and promote new job opportunities by assisting in the development of small business," said Wright. "With more than half of our labor force employed by a small business, California's economic improvement relies greatly on the strength of this sector."

Wright noted nearly 10,000 jobs were created or saved in 1995 due to assistance by the California SBDC program.

For example, Alan Safahi founded Card Express Inc. (CardEx) in August, 1995 with assistance from ACCELERATE SBDC of Irvine. CardEx, an innovative electronic gift certificate system for companies to use as employee incentives and bonuses, replaces the old-fashioned paper gift certificate with a credit card redeemable for a variety of retailers nationwide rather than a single store.

This system relieves the buyers of the hassles of shopping around for multiple store's gift certificates while allowing the recipients to choose the store that appeals to them.

Safahi was referred to the SBDC as a source of free advice on compiling a business plan and developing a presentation for potential investors and customers.

In less than three months, Irvine-based CardEx has secured agreements to offer gift certificates for such retail, food and entertainment establishments as The Sharper Image, T.J. Maxx, Footlocker, Warner Brothers Studios, TGI Fridays and Stuart Anderson's.

"ACCELERATE Technology SBDC has been very crucial in every stage of our development and continues to provide us with an invaluable source of information and advice," said Safahi. "The network of contacts and expertise available through the SBDC program helped demystify the process of starting a small business."

In appreciation of the significant impact the SBDC has had on his company, Safahi has become a corporate sponson of the program. "It is very rewarding that I can give something back to the community and other entrepreneurs through the success of our business," said Safahi. "Every new entrepreneur needs to know about this program."

More than 16,000 clients received counseling at one of the 45 offices located across the state in 1995. Areas of counseling ranged from marketing and international trade to sources of capital and start-up information.

The California Small Business Development Center Program was formally established in 1983 under the California Trade and Commerce Agency to spurt the expansion and development of California small businesses.

The SBDC offers small business owners and entrepreneurs in California one-stop business counseling, training, and links to other economic development resources in all California counties. The SBDC program is partially funded by the Small Business Administration and community colleges.

Information about small business programs and services are available to the public through the Small Business Help Line 1-800/303-6600.

The Help-Line is available 24 hours a day and provides information on topics such as financial, management and technical assistance and referrals to state agencies for small businesses.

Information about the California Office of Small Business is also available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ca.gov/commerce/sb_home.html.

For the address and telephone of the nearest SBDC, call the Office of Small Business, 916/324-1295. -0-

Note to Editors: The California Trade and Commerce Agency is the state's lead agency for promoting economic development, job creation and business retention in California.

CONTACT: California Trade and Commerce Agency

Mike Marando/Lisa Rettig, 916/324-8214