OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Small Business Development Center

Goal
Job Creation
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will work with established and start up businesses to create jobs.

Objective
Conduct Extensive Client Contact
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will work with established and start up businesses to create jobs.

Indicator
Job Creation Accomplishment
The indicator for this successful accomplishment of this goal are the jobs documented by SBDC clients.

Criterion
Job Creation
The criteria for this goal is the annual national impact survey that the client completes indicating that jobs were created because of SBDC assistance. 

Finding
Job Creation
The job creation goal for this year was 221 jobs.  A total of 225 jobs were developed this year by existing and start up businesses.

Action
Client Follow-up
The SBDC will continue to work with existing and start up businesses to assist with job creation.

Action
Bank Visits
SBDC consultants will continue working with bankers to identify exisitng bank clients that need SBDC assistance.  This assistance leads to the development of new jobs in both exisitng and start up businesses.

Goal
Spend A Minimum Of 5 Hours Contact With Capital Ready Clients
The SBDC will strive to work with productive clients for a minimum of 5 hours.

Objective
Identify Capital Ready Clients
The SBDC will strive to work with productive clients for a minimum of 5 hours.

Indicator
Good Clients
Clients that come to the center with a good credit history, injection capital and a solid business plan are clients that consultants need to spend extensive time assisting.


Criterion
Documentation of Clients with Over 5 Hours
This criteria is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System. The Director weekly monitors the success of this by each Consultant.

Finding
Clients Over 5 Hours
This goal for FY 2009 was increased from 69 to 109 clients at mid-year.  This increase was due to a University of Houston error in the number of clients required to meet Small Business Administration goals.  Because of this mid-year change the goal was not achieved.


Action
Identify And Work With Good Client Referrals
SBDC consultants will spend extensive time with good capital ready clients that are identified by bankers, chambers of commerces, and economic development organizations.

Action
Conduct Extensive Screening Of Walk-in Clients
Office procedures have been established to identify good walk-in clients that have a strong credit history and injection capital for their new or existing venture.

Goal
Assist Future Entrepreneurs In Starting New Businesses
The SBDC will assist in all prestart up planning to facilitate the opening of new businesses throughout the service area.

Objective
Establish New Businesses Within The Service Area
SBDC will strive to work with good capital ready clients.

Indicator
New Business Start Up Accomplishments
SBDC will work with identifying good clients that will succeed in new business start ups.  These good clients will be referred to the center by banks and a large number of community organizations.


Criterion
Small Business Startups
This criteria is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System. The Director weekly monitors the success of this by each Consultant.


Finding
Small Business Start-ups
The SBDC goal for FY 2009 was assisting in opening 40 new businesses.  A total of 48 businesses was opened exceeding the goal by 8.

Action
Identify Good Clients
Continue to identify and work with good potential clients to assist in the establishment of new business ventures.

Goal
Capital Development
The SBDC will assist new and existing clients in securing capital formation.

Objective
Assists Clients In Obtaining Capital
The SBDC will assist clients during this measureable period in obtaining capital from bank and other financial organizations.

Indicator
Capital Formation Results
SBDC will strive to work with good capital ready clients that are referred from banks or identified through the SBDC network.  These clients are capital ready with good credit scores and injection capital.


Criterion
Client Capital Formation
This criteria is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System. The Director weekly monitors the success of this by each Consultant.




Finding
Client Capital Formation
The SBDC goal for FY 2009 was $8,800,000.  A total of $10,545,636 was achieved exceeding the goal by $1,745,636. 


Action
Extensive Bank Contact
SBDC consultants will continue working with bankers to identify existing good bank clients that need capital and SBDC assistance. 

Goal
New Clients
The SBDC will assist individuals in the steps to start a new business.

Objective
New Clients
Identify clients within the seven county service area that need SBDC assistance.  The identification with these clients will be done by chambers of commerces, city and county organizations, and walk in clients requesting assistance.


Indicator
New Clients
Total of new clients requesting assistance on a monthly basis.


Criterion
New Clients
This criteria is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System. The Director weekly monitors the success of this by each Consultant.




Finding
New Clients
The goal for FY 09 for new clients was 203.   The total for new clients was 195.  The goal attainment for new clients was difficult to meet because of the economic conditions concerning small businesses.

Action
New Clients
The primary action for this goal is to continue marketing the services of the SBDC through selected media throughout the service area.


Goal
Total Clients
Total clients will include new clients plus existing clients that uses SBDC services for one or more years.

Objective
Maintain A Minimum Number Of Clients
To identify potential clients throughout the service area that need SBDC assistance.


Indicator
Total Clients
The total number of active clients that the SBDC assists.


Criterion
Total Clients
This criteria is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System. The Director weekly monitors the success of this by each Consultant.


Action
Total Clients
The primary action for this goal is to continue marketing the services of the SBDC through selected media throughout the service area.

Goal
Impact Clients
This criteria is measured with clients with 5 or more hours of contact and preparation hours.

Objective
Identify And Work With Good Impact Clients
To identify good clients and spend a total of 5 or more hours of contact and preparation with that client. 


Indicator
Impact Clients
Carefully monitor client files weekly to determine the number of hours spent with clients by assigned consultant.


Criterion
Impact Client Measurement
This criteria is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System. The Director monitors the success each quarter with the Consultants.

Finding
Impact Clients
The goal for FY 2009 for Impact Clients was 171 impact clients.  A total of 170 impact clients was achieved for the year.

Action
Weekly Montoring Of Client Hours
The lead consultant within the SBDC will provide the Director weekly percentages spent with active clients by each consultant.



Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement Weekly meetings are conducted every Monday to discuss goal attainment with the entire staff. Extensive marketing of Small Business Development Center (SBDC) services are being conducted throughout the seven county service areas. Representatives from all of the Chamber of Commerces are provided training schedules and service brochures on a monthly basis. Banks within our service area are provided marketing brochures and replenished as required. Client evaluations are done for all new clients and annually for long-term clients. Issues/recommendations that are outlined in these surveys are discussed and implemented when appropriate. The Director and Counselors attend quarterly training sessions through the University of Houston programs along with state and national conferences conducted annually.