Archives for 2016

AUSTIN, November 15, 2016 – On Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Austin City Hall, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Jay Williams, announced major U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) investments for Texas and other states. Through a collaborative effort, the UTSA Institute for Economic Development’s SBDC Technology Commercialization Center and the UTSA Office of Commercialization Innovation (OCI) were among national awardees of the EDA-sponsored Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) i6 Challenge competition, securing a $500,000 matching grant towards their $ 1 Million project. The national innovation competition awards nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations to spur innovation capacity-building activities nationwide. Austin City Mayor Steve Adler joined Assistant Secretary Jay Williams for the announcement. The i6 Challenge Grant is a leading national program designed to build globally competitive regions

UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center San Antonio created approximately 1,500 jobs from 2015-2016 through their work with minority entrepreneurs and business owners.  SAN ANTONIO, October 6, 2016 – The UTSA Institute for Economic Development’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center San Antonio returned from the MBDA 2016 National Training Conference hosted in Denver, CO with two excellence awards including “Century Club Outstanding Performance” and “Highest National Number of Jobs Created.” Located at The University of Texas Institute for Economic Development, the MBDA San Antonio Business Center is part of a nationwide network of 40 MBDA Business Centers that assist minority entrepreneurs and business owners with consulting services, contract and financing opportunities, bonding and certification services, building business-to-business alliances, global/ teaming/joint venture opportunities,

UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development’s International Trade Center is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in the U.S. and has worked with over 20 countries across the Western Hemisphere.  SAN ANTONIO, October 6, 2016 – Through a collaboration with America’s Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) and the Centro Regional de Promoción de la MIPYME (CENPROMYPE), the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute for Economic Development’s International Trade Center received $1.8 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) to continue supporting efforts to replicate the U.S. Small Business Development Center (SBDC) model in Central America. The International Trade Center is leading an SBDC international expansion initiative through their SBDCGlobal program. SBDCGlobal directly stems from President Barack

SAN ANTONIO, October 6, 2016 – The UTSA Institute for Economic Development’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center San Antonio will host its 34th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) from October 14-20, 2016. This year’s theme, “The Flow of Entrepreneurship: Past / Present / Future,” will celebrate minority entrepreneurs and their champions.  Funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the MBDA Business Center San Antonio is part of a nationwide network of more than 40 MBDA business centers that have business specialists who support minority businesses access markets and capital. The media is invited to attend the awards luncheon: On October 20, the San Antonio MBDA Business Center will host its Annual MED Week Awards Luncheon from 11:30

The SBDC Technology Commercialization Center is the first Center within The UT System to earn a FAST grant award.   SAN ANTONIO, September 1, 2016 – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Innovation & Technology has awarded a Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program grant to the SBDC Technology Commercialization Center (SBDC TCC) of UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development. UTSA is the first University of Texas system institution, and one of only two institutions in the state of Texas to have ever received the award. The Center’s Texas-FITT (Federal Innovation and Technology Transfer) program is focused on increasing the participation and award success for innovative entrepreneurs and small technology firms in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The awards greatly enhance

The UTSA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Rural Business Program and the Governor’s Small Business Forum, will host the 7th annual Texas Rural Challenge June 9-10 at the Waco Convention Center and Hilton Waco. This year’s theme is “Small town BIG IDEAS”. Keynote Speakers include: • Sid Miller – Commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture • Carlos Cascos – Texas Secretary of State • Libby Lane, Libby Lane Leather Goods • Carrie Kelleher – Small Business Owner The Governor’s office will present Governor’s Small Business Awards to 2-3 exemplary small businesses. Additional breakout sessions feature expert panelists in water, entrepreneurship, community development, tourism, and rural housing. “The Texas Rural Challenge is different from other conferences because it offers an opportunity for rural Texans to engage with one another, openly discuss best

While some think of interns and student workers as assistants who take care of rote tasks, IED student researchers are changing that paradigm and have fuller roles steeped in experiential learning. Instead of seeing an IED student researcher hovering over a copy machine or running errands around campus, you might see him or her briefing an international delegation, developing a foreign investment business plan, accessing a specialized database to develop a marketing plan for a national client, conducting data collection, or presenting research findings to a CEO. “Student researchers are a critical component of our client’s success,” said UTSA Sr. Associate Vice President for Economic Development Robert McKinley, “Their research provides entrepreneurs with valuable information and solutions, meanwhile students gain practical experience.” In 2015, the IED generated $2.6 billion in economic

Bexar County has partnered with UTSA to conduct research that will provide greater insight into how the county can support and strengthen African American Business Enterprises (AABEs). The UTSA study was contracted after Bexar County identified a gap in qualified AABEs that can participate in Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (SMWBE) and related contract programs in the Alamo region. The Center for Community and Business Research in the UTSA Institute for Economic Development is conducting the study, focusing on AABEs in eight counties in the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson. By the end of the study, UTSA researchers will have: Identified and compiled a comprehensive list of AABEs in the Alamo region that can be used to increase the number

In 2015, an average working day for the UTSA Institute for Economic Development resulted in 137 small businesses receiving advising or training, the acquisition of $2 million in business growth capital, $8.7 million of sales/contracts/exports being realized, and the creation of over 30 new jobs. This year, the Institute achieved yet another milestone in it’s 36 year career with over $2.6 billion of direct economic impact including new financing, investments, sales, contracts, and exports, resulting in a 33% increase from last year. During the fiscal year, the Institute for Economic Development: Served 34,256 business and community clients Provided trainings and workshops to 21,339 participants Delivered 8,219 consulting cases and 76,137 research hours Helped launch 657 new businesses Helped expand 585 existing businesses Supported the creation of 8,251 new jobs and