Bucknell University Small Business Development Center recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration

May 1—LEWISBURG — The Bucknell University Small Business Development Center was recognized on Tuesday by the U.S. Small Business Administration with the 2024 Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award.

The award was presented to the SBDC during an event at the Campus Theatre, 413 Market St., Lewisburg, as part of the National Small Business Week Celebration. Fourteen small business owners who received assistance through the center, as well as local and state officials and business leaders, joined the SBDC and the U.S. SBA in celebrating on Tuesday.

"This is a super awesome award," said Steve Dixel, district director, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Office. "It's very competitive to get this. Today, you are the best of the best."

The administration's Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award Winner is selected from among the Commonwealth's Small Business Development Center Network. National Small Business Week recognizes the small business community's contribution to the American economy.

SDBC's director Steven Stumbris said it is a privilege to serve aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. He said

"These are the dreamers and doers of our country," said Stumbris.

Each member of the team is deserving of the award, he said.

Bucknell SBDC, formed in 1979, provides entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge they need to start and grow their ventures. Services are extended to small business owners throughout Union, Northumberland, Juniata, Montour, Perry, and Snyder counties in central Pennsylvania. Bucknell hosts the statewide Center of Excellence for Innovation Engineering, providing specialized innovation, engineering, and concept development services to small businesses in partnership with Bucknell's College of Engineering. It offers a suite of digital services to help rural businesses adapt and expand in a post-pandemic economy.

The center leads two community-based business incubators, Startup Lewisburg and Startup Danville, and will be introducing a third incubator called Startup Milton later this year. The center has served over 8,000 entrepreneurs since its inception.

Under the leadership of Director Steven Stumbris, the center helped its rural clients access more than $10 million in capital in fiscal year 2023. Last year, the center engaged with more than 600 individuals, resulting in the launch of over 40 new businesses, and their consulting assistance helped businesses support more than 2,300 jobs across the region.

"It is not one person, it's not one organization, it's not one agency that is the reason for success for small businesses throughout the country or in our local region," said Stumbris. "It is a network of partners. It is collaborators. It is partners and friends who come together with a mission of serving small businesses."

Strumbris thanked the SBA, Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development, USDA Rural Development, its colleagues across the Pennsylvania SBDC Network, and its host Bucknell University for their support and collaboration.

Before the award presentation, the SBDC hosted a M&T Bank Spotlight Ship to showcase 14 businesses that were assisted with the center's services.

"We wouldn't have been able to do this without them," said Jillian Rogers, co-owner of Union Cellars at 4760 Furnace Road, Lewisburg. "Neither my husband or I have a business background. It was an awesome foundation that helped us with the money side of the business."

Fashion designer Ayana Ife, founder of Ayana Active in Danville, said SBDC helped in various ways, including developing the perfect product pitch, attracting investors, branding positioning and marketing.

"SBDC is the gift that keeps on giving," she said.

Terri Campbell, the district director for state Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-27, also presented a state citation recognizing the SBDC for their accomplishment.