UAlbany's SBDC Wins National Award

Contact: Lisa James Goldsberry (518) 437-4980

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 17, 2003) -The Veterans' Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at the University at Albany has won a prestigious 2003 Outstanding Project of the Year Award from the National Association of Marketing and Technical Assistance Centers (NAMTAC). Only 15 such awards are given each year.

The VBOC is an integral part of UAlbany's Small Business Development Center. The VBOC offers targeted, pro bono business counseling, training and mentoring to area military veterans who want to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business. All veterans are encouraged to make use of VBOC services.

The VBOC at UAlbany is part of a four-center Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) network designed to provide business assistance to veterans across New York. The U.S. Small Business Administration funds the program, with matching funds from the State of New York. A special appropriation from Congressman James Walsh (R-Syracuse) in 2002 made possible an expansion of VBOP and its services.

VBOP was launched in New York in the fall of 1999-one of just three such pilot programs in the U.S. Over four years, the New York VBOP has counseled over 5,000 veterans, helped them locate $76.5 million for their businesses, and saved or created more than 3,000 jobs in New York. VBOP has also provided business training to more than 6,000 veterans.

NAMTAC is one of the oldest business technical assistance advocacy organizations in the United States. With headquarters at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, NAMTAC represents members in support of advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., on behalf of America's small and medium-sized businesses, and advances issues of economic development concern to the community and business sectors.