News Release
Release Date: January 28, 2016
Contact: Diane Howerton
Release Number: 01-16
Internet Address: http://sbdc.ucmerced.edu
UC Merced and Fresno State SBDC
Small Business Services Expand in Central California
The University of California, Merced Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network is
pleased to announce a new partnership agreement with the Office of Community and Economic
Development (OCED) at Fresno State, to expand SBDC services.
“Fresno State’s Office of Community and Economic Development has a nationally recognized
and award-winning rural outreach program that aligns with the SBDC mission,” said Diane
Howerton, Regional Director of the UC Merced SBDC. This will be an opportunity for us to
continue to leverage and expand services throughout Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties,
the four counties served by the Fresno State SBDC.”
Eduardo Gonzalez has been named as the new, full-time Fresno State SBDC Director. Gonzalez
joined OCED in 2011 as a program manager. Gonzalez provided support in planning, developing
and facilitating grant funded projects for OCED and its various collaborations. He was
instrumental in helping OCED earn the national Excellence in Community-Connected Campus
Award for its San Joaquin Valley Rural Development Center.
Gonzalez has many years of experience implementing OCED activities and programs that
provide solutions for public agencies in underserved communities by connecting them with
experts who can provide specialized consulting to which they would otherwise not have access.
Target areas include business services, clean energy, economic development, finance, grant
writing, health and human services, housing, nonprofit capacity, planning, project design and
construction, trade development, transportation, and water infrastructure.
“Mr. Gonzalez, particularly being bilingual and having background and experience as a small
business owner, brings a depth of talent and abilities to serve as the new director,” said
Howerton.
-More-
“We are very excited about this expanded partnership with UC Merced SBDC,” explained
OCED Executive Director Mike Dozier. “We have partnered on numerous successful SBDC
projects and events in the past six years. SBDC is a natural fit with the vision and mission of our
office. We are familiar with the other outstanding centers in the UC Merced SBDC region and
look forward to being part of their future success.”
The SBDC is a job creation and job retention program that assists business owners and
entrepreneurs with growth-oriented business strategies and technical assistance. The UC Merced
SBDC network is a nationally accredited program, largely funded by the U.S. Small Business
Administration.
The federally funded program is administered through the UC Merced SBDC Regional
Network. During the past five years, the Fresno State SBDC, working in Fresno, Madera, Tulare
and Kings Counties, generated more than $43 million in new capital, aided in the creation or
retention of 714 jobs with 258 new and expanding businesses and served 2,505 clients with
13,205 consulting hours. For additional information, please contact: Eduardo Gonzalez, Fresno
State SBDC, (559) 278-0542 or edgonzalez@csufresno.edu.
UC Merced was awarded the SBA contract in 2003 to serve 14 counties in Central California: San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Monterey ,
Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern, Mono and Inyo. The mission of the network is to promote the
development and growth of small businesses by providing high quality business assistance throughout Central California thereby enhancing
regional prosperity.
This cooperative agreement is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of California, Merced.
###