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Jan 25, 2008
Massachusetts Small
Business Development Center
Receives National Accreditation Receives Accreditation
Program Recognized for Its Quality
and Impact
AMHERST-- The Massachusetts Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of
Management has been awarded full accreditation from the Association of
Small Business Development Centers, the national accrediting body for
Small Business Development Centers under contract from the U.S. Small
Business Administration. The accreditation review process, mandated by
Congress, is based upon a strict set of standards guided by the Malcolm
Baldrige Quality Awards to assure that SBDC programs are operating
efficiently and effectively. Failure to achieve accreditation can result
in withdrawal of federal funding.
A team composed of the leaders of the SBDC programs in Washington,
Oregon and Oklahoma conducted the state view in October 2007. The 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 local universities and
colleges is resulting in strong returns for the State’s economy. The
Massachusetts program was fully accredited during the second week of
January without any conditions, a commendable achievement.
In particular, the accreditation team commended the Massachusetts
program for positioning itself as a key player in the Commonwealth’s
economic development strategy through innovative program development,
outstanding stakeholder engagement and highly professional and
experienced staff.. The team also noted that the program has
differentiated itself from other technical assistance providers and is
perceived as the gold standard in technical assistance delivery in the
State.
The latest impact study conducted in 2007 (for in-depth clients advised
during calendar year 2005) indicated that MSBDC clients generated and
reserved 2,796 jobs, generated $123.1 million in sales and over $8.9
million in tax revenues.
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