{"id":12770,"date":"2025-08-20T09:09:42","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=12770"},"modified":"2025-08-20T09:09:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T14:09:42","slug":"the-small-business-development-center-at-uw-green-bay-celebrates-45-successful-years","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/the-small-business-development-center-at-uw-green-bay-celebrates-45-successful-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The Small Business Development Center at UW-Green Bay celebrates 45 successful years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Now in its 45th year of providing free support to small businesses throughout the Green Bay area, the\u00a0Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin\u2013Green Bay<\/a>\u00a0(SBDC) has met federal metrics for the past decade. The Small Business Administration provides federal grant funds to SBDCs around the U.S., so they can provide no-cost business consulting to fledgling companies in their local communities. This service supports the generation of small businesses that contribute to local and state economic development and support regional growth.<\/p>\n

UW-Green Bay SBDC services include\u00a0independent consulting<\/a>\u00a0between business founders and leaders and SBDC business consultants. Entrepreneurs can also choose to take advantage of courses, programs, and services like the\u00a0Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP)<\/a>, an eight-session course designed to guide entrepreneurs in the creation of a blueprint for a successful and profitable business. The Wisconsin SBDC provides courses\u00a0throughout the state<\/a>\u00a0and also offers\u00a0free online training<\/a>. Some companies create\u00a0customized training<\/a>\u00a0for their employees in partnership with the UW-Green Bay SBDC.<\/p>\n

Honors and Accolades<\/h3>\n

The UW-Green Bay SBDC is a top performer in the state and has been a leader in metrics set by the Small Business Administration for the past ten years. The SBDC was named a\u00a0Small Business Development Center of Excellence and Innovation<\/a>\u00a0in 2021 by the\u00a0Wisconsin district of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)<\/a>, in recognition of the Center\u2019s outstanding efforts to boost the state\u2019s small businesses. That year, the Center assisted 674 clients, leading to 27 new businesses and $15 million in capital investment, along with a 96% rating in client satisfaction.<\/p>\n

Additionally, since 2018, the SBDC at UW-Green Bay has more than doubled its annual enrollment in theEntrepreneurial Training Program (ETP), which helps startups and existing firms with business models and plans.<\/p>\n

SBDC business consultant\u00a0Dave Stauffacher<\/a>\u00a0was recognized by the Wisconsin SBDC network as the\u00a02019<\/a>and\u00a02023 State Star<\/a>\u2013an SBDC employee who exhibits the criteria of an exemplary performer by making a significant contribution to their SBDC program and showing a strong commitment to small business.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe meaning of success is defined by the entrepreneur,\u201d says Stauffacher, who has supported businesses including\u00a0Haveg\u00e4rd Birdseed<\/a>\u00a0of Algoma,\u00a0Hiles-Pine Lake Campground<\/a>, and Green Bay\u2019s\u00a0Five Thumbs Up Desserts<\/a>. \u201cTheir pathway is rarely short or easy, so if I can assist them in any capacity throughout their journey to their desired destination, that\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Small Business Success Stories<\/h3>\n

Two well-known Sheboygan businesses,\u00a0Carbliss<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Union Asian Market<\/a>, utilized SBDC services to launch their businesses. Both business owners worked with business consultant Ray York, the SBDC, and the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation to craft a business plan and work through financial projections.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation, with assistance from the Small Business Development Center, was the cornerstone of our business launch,\u201d says Carbliss co-founder and president Adam Kroener. \u201cFrom business plan formation, initial PR, and financial planning, this foundation allowed us to grow the business in a methodical and strategic way and helped us gain financial partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

After their launch in 2018, Carbliss, makers of 100-calorie canned cocktails with no sugar or carbohydrates, has expanded throughout the U.S., with retailers in 14 states.<\/p>\n

In 2022, the SBDC and the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation helped Vanna Lor\u00a0purchase the Union Asian Market<\/a>, formerly known as Union Oriental Market, at 2022 S 17th<\/sup>\u00a0St. in Sheboygan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are deeply grateful to the Sheboygan Small Business Development Center for their invaluable support in acquiring our business,\u201d says Lor. \u201cTheir expertise in business planning, financial preparation, and securing funding was instrumental in our success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 1982, the Market was the first grocery store in Sheboygan geared towards the Hmong and Asian communities. The store grew and moved to its current location in 1999. Lor aims to honor the store\u2019s legacy and also grow and expand its offerings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will continue to honor the legacy before us and enhance it by modernizing the retail and digital space, adding additional hot food menu items, as well as goods and produce,\u201d Lor says. \u201cWe look forward to feedback as to what the community needs so that we can bring it into the store and expand our offerings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor any small business seeking guidance and resources, the SBDC is an exceptional partner in achieving your goals,\u201d says Lor.<\/p>\n

\n

Written by Kathleen B. Ginder-Vogel<\/p>\n

Link to original story: https:\/\/news.uwgb.edu\/phlash\/news\/08\/07\/the-small-business-development-center-at-the-university-of-wisconsin-green-bay-celebrates-45-successful-years\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Now in its 45th year of providing free support to small businesses throughout the Green Bay area, the\u00a0Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin\u2013Green Bay\u00a0(SBDC) has met federal metrics for the past decade. The Small Business Administration provides federal grant funds to SBDCs around the U.S., so they can provide no-cost business consulting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":11682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","institution":[111],"story_category":[],"class_list":["post-12770","campus_story","type-campus_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","institution-uw-green-bay"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story\/12770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campus_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campus_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"institution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/institution?post=12770"},{"taxonomy":"story_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story_category?post=12770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}