Small Business DevelopmentCenter Receives $278,586 Grant

SALISBURY, MD--Salisbury State University's Franklin P. Perdue School of Business has received a $278,586 grant to continue funding the Eastern Region Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

The Eastern Region SBDC serves the small businesses of Cecil, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties. The services provided by the Eastern Region SBDC include counseling, low- cost training and access to technical assistance. The Perdue School of Business Resource Center serves as the subcenter of the Eastern Region SBDC with two satellite offices located at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, MD, and Cecil Community College in Elkton, MD. Director Dennis J. Hebert oversees the Eastern Region SBDC and its services.

"As a strong supporter of the Perdue School of Business, I extend my heartiest congratulations on the awarding of these funds," said Senator Paul S. Sarbanes. "This funding will help SSU's Perdue School of Business continue its leadership in assisting small businesses on the Eastern Shore as they strive for that competitive edge in business management and development in our ever-increasing global competitive marketplace."

The Eastern Region SBDC is a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration and University of Maryland College Park's Center for Applied Studies. The center provides comprehensive management and technical assistance to local area businesses. The services include one-on-one counseling in business plan development, business structuring, market planning and research, financial analysis and control, cash flow analysis, financial projections, debt and equity financing, strategic planning and accounting systems. For a small fee, education and training services are offered through a wide range of workshops, conferences, seminars, and courses on topics such as international trade, procurement opportunities, marketing and sales analysis, and financing options. The SBDC also brings together various organizations such as educational institutions, economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and federal or state agencies to help businesses connect with others in Maryland that share the same professional interests and concerns.

Over 90 percent of businesses in Maryland are small businesses. Each year the combined business revenue of these small businesses is in the billions. Therefore, small businesses play a crucial role in Maryland's economy. The Eastern Region SBDC is there to help small businesses start up, expand and survive. For more information about the Eastern Region SBDC call 1-800-999-SBDC (7232).