University of Wisconsin - Extension

When the UW-Extension Small Business Development Center (SBDC) celebrated its 20th anniversary of service to Wisconsin's entrepreneurs, Governor Tommy Thompson marked the occasion with an official commendation.

Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Brenda Blanchard (left, in photo) presented the commendation to Interim Chancellor Albert Beaver and state SBDC Director Erica Kauten during a kickoff event at the Pyle Center in February.

The commendation recognized the SBDC for:

• Stimulating social and cultural factors that encourage spontaneous optimism and creative spirit of successful entrepreneurship, and for promoting women and minority participation in entrepreneurship
• Motivating employment growth and innovation statewide by removing obstacles and finding solutions for the state's entrepreneurs, and helping them to qualify for millions of dollars of new capital financing annually
• Strengthening the state's business community by connecting them with the University of Wisconsin's vast expertise and resources.

The SBDC network is the state's largest educational service provider for small business. It has 13 offices, supported through 12 UW universities.