20 Years: 1994-2004

Expansion and Innovation

By the time of its 20th Anniversary, the SBDC network continued to thrive, adding five more centers to expand its services to more entrepreneurs:

• 1998: Lamar State College SBDC, Port Arthur, Texas; San Jacinto College SBDC, Pearland, Texas
• 2000: Coastal Plains SBDC, Bay City, Texas (UH hosted)
• 2002: Fort Bend County SBDC, Missouri City (UH hosted)
• 2004: Prairie View A&M University SBDC, Prairie View, Texas

These new centers allowed the SBDC to widen its reach and impact, ensuring that business owners from all parts of the region could access critical resources such as business advising, training, and workshops.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the SBDC also played a significant role in helping businesses access Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. These grants supported innovation and entrepreneurship by providing funding for research and development. The network’s growth during this period was further fueled by the rise of the internet and e-commerce, with SBDC offering guidance on digital strategies for small businesses to adapt to the evolving marketplace.

The SBDC’s ability to meet the changing needs of businesses by offering cutting-edge tools and funding resources was critical to its success in the second decade.