SBDC Opens at New Site With a Ribbon-cutting in Laredo

The center also operates as part of the University of Texas at San Antonio's Southwest Texas Border Small Business Development Center Network.

The cooperation between UTSA and TAMIU demonstrates the institution's dedication to improving the state, said TAMIU President Ray Keck.

The SBDC has a full-time staff of eight business and training professionals who help entrepreneurs with various management tasks "This gives us the opportunity to remember that the economic well being of our people is the economic heart of the nation," Keck said. "It is truly a model of everything we should be about as a state."

UTSA President Ricardo Romo praised the efforts of Sen. Judith Zaffirini for making good things happen at UTSA.

Zaffirini said the SBDC's statistics show success in creating new jobs, obtaining financing and increasing sales, thereby improving all the border regions.

The SBDC was created almost 20 years ago to serve Webb, Zapata and Jim Hogg counties. The Laredo Development Foundation is the center's former location.

Richard Perez, director of the SBDC at TAMIU, said small business centers across the country are typically housed at universities to exploit academic resources and better funding opportunities.

The SBDC helps businesses with business planning, financial proposals, computerized bookkeeping, marketing and other tasks.

The SBDC program also works the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Clay Reddick may be reached at (956) 728-2582 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Article found in Laredo Morning Times