III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 165 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 9, 2005 Ms. Snowe (for herself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Vitter, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Burns, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Bayh, and Mr. Lieberman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship RESOLUTION Congratulating the Small Business Development Centers of the Small Business Administration on their 25 years of service to America’s small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Whereas in 1980, Congress established the Small Business Development Center program to deliver management and technical assistance counseling and provide educational programs to prospective and existing small business owners; Whereas over the last 25 years, the Small Business Development Center network counseled and trained more than 11,000,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs, helping small businesses start and grow and create jobs in the United States; Whereas the Small Business Development Centers exemplify the partnership between private sector institutions of higher education and Government, working together to support small businesses and entrepreneurship; Whereas the Small Business Development Centers have been a critical partner in the start-up and growth of the Nation's small businesses; Whereas in 2004, the Small Business Development Centers counseled and trained approximately 750,000 new and existing small businesses; Whereas the Small Business Development Centers deliver specialized assistance through a network of 63 lead centers and more than 1,100 service locations, in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa; Whereas the Small Business Development Centers provide assistance tailored to the local community and the needs of the client, including counseling and training on financial management, marketing, production and organization, international trade assistance, procurement assistance, venture capital formation, and rural development, among other services that improve the economic environment in which small businesses compete; Whereas in 2003, the Small Business Development Center’s in-depth counseling helped small businesses generate nearly $6,000,000,000 in revenues and save an additional $7,000,000,000 in sales; Whereas in 2003, the Small Business Development Centers helped create and retain over 163,000 jobs across the United States; and Whereas the Small Business Development Centers proudly celebrate 25 years of service to America’s small business owners and entrepreneurs: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)congratulates the Small Business Development Centers of the Small Business Administration on their 25 years of service to America’s small business owners and entrepreneurs; (2)recognizes their service in helping America’s small businesses start, grow, and flourish; and (3)directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Association for Small Business Development Centers for appropriate display.