OATdb Archive

2010 - 2011

Small Business Development Center

Goal
Have A Positive Economic Impact Within The SBDC Seven County Service Area
This economic impact will be measured annually using seven specific objectives established within the SBDC annual federal contract.


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

Indicator
Annual Client Surveys
The indicator for this objective is SBDC client - jobs documentation.  This documentation is established by a series of surveys that are conducted annually of all SBDC clients within the service area.

Criterion
229 For FY 2011
The indicator for this objective is the annual National Impact Survey that the client completes indicating that jobs were created because of SBDC assistance.  The goal for FY 2011 is 229. 

Finding
Job Creation Accomplishments
The total goal for FY 2011 was 229 jobs created and the total accomplishments were 139.  This is due to the extremely poor economic conditions and the lack of available bank financing for business start ups and expansions.


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

Action
Bank Visits
The SBDC consultants will work with bankers to identify existing bank clients that need SBDC assistance.  This assistance leads to the development of new jobs in both existing and start-up businesses.  The Houston Small Business Administration (SBA) district office has recently hired an x-banker as a marketing/liaison official to conduct continuous banking visits and establish ongoing communication and marketing with banks.

Objective
Assist Future Entrepreneurs In Starting New Businesses
The SBDC will strive to work with all clients in assisting the development of new businesses throughout the service area.


Indicator
Client Surveys And MIS System
This criterion is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System.  The Director weekly monitors the success of this objective by each consultant.

Criterion
57 Business Start-ups For FY 2011
The indicator for this objective is the annual National Impact Survey that the client completes indicating that businesses were started because of SBDC assistance. The goal for FY 2011 will be 57 business start-ups.

Finding
Business Start-Ups
The total goal for FY 2011 was 50 start-ups and the total accomplishments were 35 start-ups.  This is due to the extremely poor economic conditions and the lack of available bank financing for business start ups.




Action
Small Business Start-Ups
The Center will work with appropriate potential clients to assist in the establishment of new businesses.  A new marketing plan is being established to further promote our services to the eight-county service area.

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

Indicator
Client Feed-Back Through Surveys
Capital formation is monitored weekly through the MIS tracking system and through annual surveys provided by SBDC clients.

Criterion
Capital Formation
The indicator for this objective is the annual National Impact Survey that the client completes indicating that capital was created because of SBDC assistance.  The goal for FY 2011 is $9,149,828. 

Finding
New Client Capital
The total goal for FY 2011 was $9,149,828 and the total accomplishments were $3,652,240 in capital.  This is due to the extremely poor economic conditions and the lack of available bank financing for business start ups and expansions.





Action
Extensive Bank Contact
The SBDC consultants will work with bankers to identify appropriate clients who need capital and SBDC assistance. The x-banker recently hired by the Houston SBA district office will be a marketing/liaison official to conduct continuous banking visits and establish ongoing communication and marketing with banks.

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

Indicator
New Client Measurement
New client tracking is conducted weekly through the MIS tracking system and the quality of service is measured continuously through client surveys.

Criterion
Successful New Client Assistance - 287 For FY 2011
The indicator for this objective is the Annual National Impact Survey and the monitoring of the MIS client tracking system. No findings at this point. Findings will be posted at the end of our fiscal year on September 30, 2011 and the goal for new clients for FY 2011 is 287. 

Finding
New Clients
The total goal for FY 2011 was 287 new clients and the total accomplishments were 180 new clients.  This is due to the extremely poor economic conditions and the lack of available bank financing for business start ups and expansions.


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Action
SBDC Promotional Activities
The primary action for this goal is to market the services of the SBDC through selected media throughout the service area.

Objective
Total Clients
To identify good clients and spend a total of 5 or more hours of contact and preparation with that client.

Indicator
Total Client Surveys And MIS System
This criterion is measured monthly and is available through the University of Houston MIS System.  The Director monitors the success of this goal weekly by each consultant.


Criterion
573 Clients For FY 2011
The indicator for this objective is the Annual National Impact Survey that the client completes and the MIS client tracking system. The goal for FY 2011 is 573 clients. 

Finding
Impact Client Results
The total goal for FY 2011 was 573 total clients and the total accomplishments were 420 total clients.  Again, this is due to the extremely poor economic conditions and the lack of available bank financing for business start ups and expansions.





Action
Extensive SBDC Marketing
The SBDC will sustain its extensive effort to market SBDC services throughout the service area.  The results of impact client activity are tracked and monitored during weekly staff meetings.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement We were unable to meet our goals set by the federal program administered by the University of Houston.  The plan is to conduct weekly meetings 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 Chambers of Commerce will be provided training schedules and service brochures on a monthly basis.  Banks within our service area will be provided marketing brochures and replenished as required.  Client evaluations will be done for all new clients and annually for long-term clients.  Issues/recommendations that are outlined in these surveys will be discussed and implemented when appropriate.  The Director and Consultants will attend quarterly training sessions through the University of Houston programs along with state and national conferences conducted annually.