SBDC Training Award Given to Skagit Valley College

SPOKANE, Wash.– Skagit Valley College received the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network Training Award at the organization’s Spring Staff Meeting Awards Banquet May 15, in Portland, Ore. The college has been an SBDC training and counseling partner for over 15 years.

The Washington SBDC Training Award is presented to the network’s most outstanding training center. Several factors are taken into consideration, including total increase in number of attendees compared to other centers, total attendees and exceeding annual contracted goals. In 2005, Skagit Valley College experienced the greatest number of attendees to its SBDC training programs, had the greatest increase in attendance from 2004-2005, reached 242% of its attendance goal and has trained over 9,300 business owners, managers and employees in the last 17 years, among many other accomplishments.

“The SBDC’s training partners are a vital component of the network’s services to local business communities.” said Washington SBDC State Director Brett Rogers. “SBDC training programs are the most important vehicle to bring basic business information to the greatest number of people. Skagit Valley College has been an outstanding provider for the SBDC network for many years, and we look forward to continuing that relationship well into the future.” 

Rogers further acknowledged the hard work of the individuals that administer SBDC training at Skagit, “A special thanks goes out to Laura Cailloux, director of the Business Recourse Center at Skagit Valley College, and her staff, for providing excellent leadership and administration of the SBDC training program for the region.”

The SBDC provides no-charge confidential counseling and low-cost training to current and prospective business owners. It is a cooperative effort between Washington State University, Western Washington University, community colleges, economic development organizations and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For more information on the mission and services of the SBDC visit the Network Web site at https://www.wsbdc.org.