[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 72 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING SOUTH CAROLINA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS FOR 
                       HELPING BUSINESSES SUCCEED

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2024

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, small businesses continue 
to face major challenges due to lingering impacts of COVID-19, high 
inflation, and limited access to capital, and other resources.
  Thankfully, in South Carolina and across the Nation, Small Business 
Development Centers (SBDC) provide critical assistance to small 
businesses through a network of over 3,000 skilled and trusted business 
advisors--at no fee.
  The South Carolina SBDC, led by Director Michele Abraham with a team 
of over 50 professionals, assisted 4,523 individuals in 2023 alone to:
  Create and retain 2,355 jobs
  Obtain $89.9 million in capital investments
  Increase revenues by $50.3 million
  Start 203 new businesses, and
  Win $10.9 million in government contracts
  This resulted in a net federal tax return for the jobs impacted of 
eight times what we invested in the program. In other words, the return 
on investment is stellar.
  Hosted by a consortium of four universities--Clemson, South Carolina 
State, University of South Carolina, and Winthrop--the South Carolina 
SBDC serves all small businesses regardless of race, gender, location, 
or military status.
  We are grateful for the work they do and the lives we see changed 
day-in and day-out.

                          ____________________