Are You Looking to Start or Grow Your Small Business?
About the San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center
The San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is primarily funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration via a cooperative agreement and the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development via grants. Southwestern Community College is the agreement and grant holder for the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network and provides significant support as well.
The San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network provides a vast array of no- and low- cost support to entrepreneurs and small businesses through our nine locations/sub-contractors:
- North San Diego SBDC (MiraCosta College) in Carlsbad
- Imperial Valley SBDC (County of Imperial) in Imperial
- East County SBDC (East County Economic Development Council) in El Cajon
- South San Diego SBDC (Southwestern College) in National City
- Alliance SBDC (Asian Business Association of San Diego with the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego County Imperial Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce) in Kearny Mesa
- International Rescue Committee SBDC in City Heights
- The Brink SBDC at the University of San Diego, a specialty SBDC for innovation-based companies
- Connect SBDC, a specialty SBDC for innovation-based companies
- Export SBDC at the World Trade Center San Diego, a specialty SBDC for companies expanding to international markets
The SBDC’s top priority is to empower small business creation and growth to achieve job creation and retention, capital investments, and dynamic innovation that improves the quality of life in San Diego and Imperial counties.
Since 2022, the San Diego & Imperial SBDC has helped strengthen small businesses in our region create more than a $3 billion economic impact including:
Our results for 2023 speak volumes: for African-American entrepreneurs, we helped start 65 new businesses, facilitated $7.5 million in capital infusion, and generated $22 million in sales and contracts, serving over 1,200 clients.
For women-owned businesses, we supported the creation of 145 new businesses, secured $60 million in capital infusion, achieved $46 million in sales and contracts, and created 508 new jobs.
2020 was an unprecedented year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Diego & Imperial SBDC remains here to help small businesses during the pandemic and beyond, as they start up as well as work on growing their businesses. And the SBDC was here for small business when the pandemic struck in addition to ongoing challenges. Here are some highlights from that pivotal year:
Host Locations
SBDC locations are hosted by local nonprofits and academic institutions which provide the infrastructure, staffing, resources, and tools necessary to carry out our mission of serving the region’s small business owners.
Our Clients Say
“The SBDC’s ongoing support has been nothing short of life-saving! Just a phone call away – they give me the courage to pursue my dreams, knowing there is nothing I can’t do with this incredible team on my side.”
“The Brink SBDC is providing an invaluable service to entrepreneurs by giving guidance and providing connections to both investors and customers. Events such as the San Diego Angel Conference are the icing on the cake, which spreads the spirit of entrepreneurship in the community by bringing entrepreneurs and new investors together, and resulted in an investment of over $100,000 for our company.”
“We moved our company to San Diego from Minnesota, and the SBDC gave us instant access to a huge network of contacts that led to obtaining our startup capital and making other crucial connections. Being the “new guy in town” is never easy, but with their help, we hit the ground running”
“The Brink SBDC and Dr. Martin Kleckner have been invaluable in the success and progress of AccuDava. They dedicated many hours to reviewing and giving advice on our SBIR grant application to the National Cancer Institute, which was successfully awarded $300,000. Their unconditional support continued with extreme efforts that helped us with a $50,000 NIH I-corps grant, which resulted in additional NCI grant funding of $150,000 to extend our diagnostic test application to non-small cell lung cancer.”
In The News
Want to know what SBDC clients and teams have been up to? Take a look at these stories about entrepreneurs, partnering organizations, and other business topics featured in San Diego and Imperial counties’ news.
From Survivor to Innovator
From Survivor to Innovator: Kate Dilligan’s Journey with Cooler Heads How a Breast Cancer Survivor Turned Entrepreneur Overcame Funding Challenges to Revolutionize Chemotherapy
Google Announces $10M Grant to America’s SBDCs for AI Training
Google Announces $10M Grant to America’s Small Business Development Centers for AI Training The new funding is part of Google’s goal to skill
Connect Takeover of Petco Park with Innovation Day 2023
The San Diego Innovation Sector is taking over Petco Park on September 14th. Innovation Day 2023 is the perfect opportunity to experience cutting-edge
EDA Awards $1.5M to Local Small Business Support Programs
Three-Year Grant to Foster Business Innovation in Areas Historically Underserved | SAN DIEGO (Oct. 31, 2022) – The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded a
Regional SBDC State Star Shines in East County
Small Business Development Center Network recognizes exemplary service for entrepreneurs | SAN DIEGO (Aug. 31, 2022) – East County Small Business Development Center Director Danielle
Study Released About COVID-19 Impact on Women-Owned Businesses
California Statewide Report Shares Insights About Effects on Women, Especially Women of Color | SAN DIEGO (July 12, 2022) – Collaborating entities at the federal,
Sponsors
We are grateful to the sponsors who have continued to support SBDC programs and entrepreneurs across San Diego and Imperial counties.
