Kentucky Small Business Development Center
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) is a partnership between Kentucky's institutions of higher education, economic development organizations and the U.S. Small Business Administration. It opened in 1982 and operates 20 centers and satellite offices are located throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The KSBDC is headquartered at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. The KSBDC is an accredited affiliate of the national network of SBDCs, the Association of Small Business Development Center.
Mission
"The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is dedicated to strengthening Kentucky businesses and creating economic growth by building strategic alliances and by providing excellent management assistance, educational programs, and helpful resources for Kentucky small business owners and entrepreneurs."[1]
Small business services
KSBDC offers management consultations, training and a variety of other resources to new ventures and existing businesses.
One-on-one management consultations are free. Topics covered in management consultations include:
- Developing a Comprehensive Business Plan
- Analyzing Cash Flow and Financial Projections
- Financing Options
- Creating a targeted marketing plan
Training programs and workshops offered by the SBDC are low cost. Over 25 self-paced workshops are available free of charge through www.ksbdc.org. Topics covered in classroom workshops include:
- Fundamentals of Starting a Business
- Developing a Business Plan
- Introduction to Quickbooks
- Basic Record keeping and Accounting
- Human Resources
KSBDC also has access to resources such as market research, industry trends, sample business plans and a variety of publications. There is no cost in using these materials.
History
SBDC programs were instituted in the United States in 1980 and Kentucky's first office opened in 1982. Now, every state has an SBDC program (Texas has four and California has six) along with Guam, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Samoa. There are a total of 63 SBDC programs with over 1,100 service centers.