The Cochise College, Small Business Development Center, received the Center of Excellence 2020-2021 Award for its record of success in business starts, jobs created, loans, sales, and clients served.
The distinction is given by the U.S. Small Business Administration, which honors state entrepreneurs and small businesses for contributions to the economy as part of Small Business Week.
In 2020-2021, under the leadership of center director Mark Schmitt, the Cochise College SBDC helped create 190 new jobs, helped retain 191 existing jobs, assisted 78 new businesses to start, assisted businesses to increase sales by $6.6 million and helped small companies raise $9.6 million in capital formation.
The awards were presented at the annual Arizona Small Business Association awards ceremony.
“Each year, the SBA has the honor of spotlighting Arizona winners at the Small Business Week awards in a ceremony that recognizes and celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit and community activism that has long characterized the small business community of our great state,” said Schmitt. “Cochise hauled back a trunk load of awards. Hats off to everyone who works at the Cochise SBDC for their combined efforts to continue to improve.”
In addition, the whole Arizona network was recognized by the Arizona Association for Economic Development as 2021 Best of Arizona.
Arizona’s SBDC Network is a partnership between Maricopa Community College and the SBA. Centers throughout the state serve thousands of clients annually through business training programs and free, one-on-one confidential counseling by counselors who use their real-life business ownership and management experience to offer practical and relevant advice.
To learn more, visit www.cochise.edu/sbdc.