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.
KPI
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. The Center continues to work with banks in an attempt to increase loans to small businesses. Working with banks also results in extensive marketing to establish businesses that may acquire technical assistance.
Result
Annual Client Survey Results
The indicator for this objective is SBDC client - jobs documentation. Total number of jobs created this year were 228 the goal was 226 so the goal was achieved for this fiscal year.
Action
Client Follow-Up
The SBDC will work with existing and start-up businesses to assist with job creation.
Action
Bank Visits Assists In Job Creations
The SBDC business advisors 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 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.
KPI
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 objective by running reports from the MIS System on each business advisor.
Result
Small Business Start-ups Results
Our goal for this fiscal year was 50 start-ups and we achieved 67 this year.
Action
Small Business Start-Ups
The Center will work with good 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.
Action
Bank Visits
The Center will continue extensive bank visits to ensure that potential clients with start up ability are referred by banks and are assisted by the Center.
Objective
Assist Clients In Obtaining Capital
The SBDC will assist clients during this measureable period in obtaining capital from banks and other financial organizations.
KPI
Client Feed-Back Through Surveys
Capital formation is money clients invest in their business or money they have borrowed from banks or from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is monitored weekly through the MIS tracking system and through annual surveys provided by SBDC clients. We are eager to determine whether the x-banker recently hired by the Houston SBA district office as a marketing/liaison official continues to conduct banking visits and continue to establish ongoing communication and marketing with banks that will assist us in meeting our goal.
Result
Capital Formation Results
Our goal was to assist clients in obtaining $9,045,226 in loans or capital injection. We were able to achieve $5,838,750 due to tough economic conditions.
Action
Extensive Bank Contact
The SBDC consultants will work with bankers to identify good clients that need capital and SBDC assistance. The Houston 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
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.
KPI
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.
Result
New Client Results
Our goal for new clients was 226 clients and we achieved 119 clients. We did not achieve our goal this year due to economic turndown. The number of new clients were down as it was last year; however, our total number of clients is above the required goal.
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.
Action
New Client Products
The University of Houston Regional Office is reviewing several new product lines that can be offered to clients. These include products in management, accounting and marketing. It is estimated that several of these products will be introducted to the region in FY 2013.
Objective
Total Clients
To identify appropriate clients and spend a total of 5 or more hours of contact and preparation with that client.
KPI
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. The goal set for us this year by the federal grant through University of Houston is 166 which translates to approximately 55 per consultant. Sometimes, to meet goals, we have been forced to admit weaker clients who are not yet ready with the basic structure to be successful. With only three business advisors, this goal seems reasonable than in the past when we were able to hire graduate student business advisors.
Result
Total Client Results
The goal set for us this year by the federal grant is 166 and we achieved 184. The SBDC will sustain an extensive effort to market our Center's services throughout the service area.
Action
Extensive SBDC Marketing
The SBDC will sustain its extensive effort to market SBDC services throught the service area. The results of impact client activity is tracked an monitored during weekly staff meetings.
Objective
Impact Clients
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 business advisor. The goal set for us this year by the federal grant is 166 and we achieved 184.
KPI
Impact Clients
This criterion is measured by the MIS tracking system and through annual surveys provided by SBDC to identify appropriate clients and spend a total of 5 or more hours of contact and preparation with that client.
Result
Impact Results
The goal for impact clients this year was 166 and we achieved 184. In contacting each client and asking them to participate in our survey and having a good relationship with our clients made it possible for our Center to meet this goal.
Action
Impact Clients
Continue working with clients that have a good possibility of success to reach the 5 hour goal.