Andrea Rogers Mosley, ASU’s SBDC director.
National Accreditation Awarded to ASU's Small Business Development Center
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
Full national accreditation has been awarded to Alabama State University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) through the year 2026. ASU's Center is part of the statewide Alabama SBDC network.
"This incredibly important certification demonstrates that Alabama State University has an accredited, highly qualified, small business program that is on a national standard of excellence and service. The Center offers important resources for businesses in Central Alabama, including executive and marketing advising, professional services and support, on-going education and peer interaction for small businesses in its six-county service area that encompasses Montgomery, Macon, Autauga, Elmore, Bullock, and Lowndes counties," said Andrea Rogers Mosley, ASU’s SBDC director.
Mosley explained that the national accreditation is a major recognition that the University’s SBDC has the experience and expertise to provide high-quality service to its clients.
"This designation allows the small businesses in our six-county service area to have
confidence in knowing that if they are working with personnel at ASU's SBDC, that
our employees are skilled expert small business advisors, who can help their small
business start, grow and expand. Each of our advisors must complete many hours of
professional development each year to stay relevant regarding the needs and desires
of entrepreneurs and small business owners," Mosley added.
SBDC ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The SBDC accreditation review process is mandated by the U.S. Congress and is based on the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Program, which is done to assure that SBDC programs operate efficiently and effectively.
The Association of Small Business Development Centers, the national accrediting body for SBDC's, under contract from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), conducted the week-long review in 2021. The review team assessed several areas of the program, including leadership and organizational management, the strategic planning process, client and stakeholder focus, service delivery, and program performance. These standards ensure that the public investment in the program from the federal government, the state government, and the host institutions results in strong returns for Alabama’s economy.
LEADERS LAUD THE PROGRAM’S SUCCESS AND RECOGNITION
Alabama State University’s President describes the SBDC staff as goodwill ambassadors
in the community.
“We are extremely proud of the work that is being done at ASU’s Small Business Development Center,” said ASU President, Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr. “Since its inception, the SBDC has been a vital part of the Montgomery community and the River Region, providing invaluable assistance to small businesses in our area. This national accreditation serves to affirm the high degree of professionalism and expertise that is the hallmark of the center. I would like to commend Mrs. Andrea Rogers Mosley and her staff for continuing the exemplary work that was begun by the center’s visionary and longtime director, the late Lorenza Patrick.”
The associate state director of Small Business Development Centers explained that by reviewing the math, one can see that ASU’s and Alabama's other centers are influential in helping make small businesses successful.
"Over the last five years, the statewide Alabama SBDC's have successfully helped entrepreneurs launch 1,115 new businesses, facilitated over $520 million in growth capital, and helped small businesses create or add over 4,500 new jobs. The actual economic impact of the program is much greater; we only report impacts that are directly attributed to SBDC assistance,” said Mike Brooks, Alabama SBDC associate director.
The Alabama SBDC - that includes ASU's Center - has 10 offices and more than 40 outreach partners throughout the state. The program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
OVERVIEW BY ASU'S SBDC LEADER
"The success of this accreditation is not the result of one person, but of a team. It is a team effort of our dedicated staff, network and host institution (ASU). Over the past 40 years, our strategic and targeted approach has enabled the SBDC at ASU to assist more than 5,000 entrepreneurs and potential small business owners. Our future goal is to do even more, even better," Mosley said.
To sign up online for a no cost, one-on-one business advisement click here...
Learn more about SBDC@ASU at www.asbdc.org.
News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.
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