The board of governors of the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce wants the Legislature to bring funding for the Utah Small Business Development Center back to its 1992 level so it can continue providing assistance to Utah businesses and people just starting businesses.
A resolution adopted by the board noted that state funding for the SBDC in 1994 was $130,000 less than in 1992. David Nimkin, center executive director, said the increase in the number of people helped at the center necessitates asking for restoration of the money.This year the center has assisted 4,500 people, and unless the funding is restored there is a chance one of the center's regional offices might be closed or some critical positions eliminated, Nimkin said.
The SBDC helps businesses gain access to information and helps owners and managers develop skills to make quality decisions. Because of the good economic climate in Utah, Nimkin, said, more people are starting their own businesses, so it's important to help them.
Information distributed during the board meeting shows that the base SBDC funding from the Small Business Administration is fixed at $578,044 through the end of the decade. University and college funding is required at each regional center to match the federal/state contribution.
Nimkin said the only growth in funding is through state participation. He said Utah is getting plenty for its money because the cost of serving each client has been steadily declining.