NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

2/27/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- The Small Business Development Center at Northwestern State University recently earned reaccreditation from the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) in Washington, D.C.

The Association has developed an on-site review process leading to formal accreditation. A Small Business Development Center must be accredited to receive federal funds.

"We were pleased to receive accreditation from ASBDC. This means that our clients can have a high level of confidence in the service they receive," said Dion Boyett, director of Northwestern's Small Business Development Center. "Our SBDC meets the Association's highest level. We are measured against a high mark."

Northwestern's SBDC offers a complete business consulting package to entrepreneurs in an eight -parish area, according to Boyett. The Center serves Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Vernon and Winn parishes.

"Our clients get a great value from our office," said Boyett. "The counselors are experienced and spend time with clients."

Boyett said SBDC counselors undergo training each year to remain current in their field.

"The training helps us stay sharp," he said. "We can't just sit by and rely on what we did last year. Each of us has to continue learning, so we can make our clients aware of new technology and processes."

Boyett and his staff assisted entrepreneurs and small businesses in Central Louisiana in securing more than $22 million in capitalization last year. The capitalization consisted of loans or packages from financial institutions, venture capitalists or the Small Business Administration. Northwestern's SBDC more than tripled its capitalization over the previous year.

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