Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)

Nationally Accredited Program

The Small Business Assistance Programs

The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is dedicated to helping small businesses throughout Colorado achieve their goals by providing Free confidential counseling and various training programs. The SBDC combines information and resources from federal, state and local governments with those of the educational system and the private sector to meet the specialized and complex needs of the small business community. Regulatory, management, financial and marketing experts work in partnership to provide entrepreneurs with crucial information that can mean the difference between success and failure. 

This partnership includes the State of Colorado, the US Small Business Administration, Colorado's institutions of higher education, the Colorado International Trade Office, local economic development organizations and local chambers of commerce.  

SBA Counseling Form download 

Small Business Advisory Panel  

The State Director for the SBDC leads the Governor's Small Business Advisory Panel, a diverse and dedicated group of individuals who volunteer their time to keep their finger on the pulse of small business in Colorado. The Small Business Advisory Panel holds Small Business Forums throughout the state where growth companies are invited to share their concerns and talk about the state of affairs for small business owners in Colorado. Governor Bill Ritter views this valuable resource as a direct pipeline to information about what small business owners think and need. Keep reading below for some feedback on the last Small Business Advisory Panel Forum, which took place on April 9th, 2009 in Alamosa. Future panels are planned for the Greeley, Breckenridge, Crested Butte and South Denver areas.  For more information on the Small Business Advisory Panel, please contact SBDC State Director Kelly Manning at (303) 892-3840.

“The April 9th session was a very good thing—we were able to network with other businesses, talk about issues with the panel, get ideas about how we might better run our business. All in all, well worth our time."

-Luke and Laura Christy of Solar Gain Services

“The only suggestion we have is that SBDC have more agricultural minds.”  

            -Jason Cody, Ted Heersink and Wayne Cody of the Colorado Malting Company

 “I would like to see some follow up information and a breakdown of discussion points to ensure that our concerns were recognized.”

            -Jim Sammons of Alta Fuels

“Keep the momentum going by hosting more events.”

            -Robert Gallegos of Spray Away Pressure Washing, Inc.

“Not sure how you can improve—we have not actively worked with the SBDC for several years, although I have phoned for specific information or suggestions with various topics such as HUBZone, immigration, and import/ export, through the years. From what I have observed at the recent events with the other businesses, the SBDC continues to provide a valuable service to new and developing business. We were referred to the SBDC about nineteen years ago by our bank, and their assistance at that time made the difference between failure and survival, as a business.” 

  -Lola Brimhall of Brimhall Industrial Machine Service, Inc.