Carl Knoblock (left), district director, SBA Pittsburgh Office; Dr. Kevin Roth (center), director, Clarion University SBDC; Christian Conroy, state director, Pennsylvania SBDC.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Western Pennsylvania District Office presented the Clarion University Small Business Development Center with the 2011 Small Business Development Center Impact Award. The award was given for the center's outstanding service to small business owners and entrepreneurs. These awards are given based on a selection process by a committee of lenders from western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The awards are given annually to economic development partners that provide excellence in service to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region.

Carl Knoblock, district director for the Small Business Administration's Pittsburgh office, presented the awards to the Clarion University SBDC at the 2012 Quality Circle Conference in Seven Springs. Accepting the award on behalf of the Clarion University SBDC was director Dr. Kevin J. Roth.

"Clarion University SBDC once again shows the positive impact it has on the economic development community by its passion to help small businesses and surrounding community," Knoblock said.

In 2011, the Clarion SBDC provided more than 8,800 hours of one-on-one consulting to 233 clients. The SBDC assisted 78 clients with securing financing for projects totaling almost $13,000,000, and a total of 78 clients started businesses. In addition, the SBDC provided more than 5,500 hours of training to 1,235 individuals at 86 events.

"This Impact Award recognizes the dedication and hard work of our Clarion University SBDC staff and students," Roth said. "They have consistently shown a commitment to facilitating the growth and development of both new and existing companies in our region."

The SBDC at Clarion University was created in 1980. It is one of 18 SBDCs in Pennsylvania and is an accredited affiliate of the National Network of Small Business Development Centers.

The mission of the SBDC is to help businesses start, grow and prosper by providing entrepreneurs with education, information and tools to create successful ventures. The Clarion University SBDC continues to focus on providing professional, high quality business consulting services to fuel start-ups and expansions. The services provided include but are not limited to business planning, industry and market research, entrepreneurial education, financial analysis, environmental analysis, strategic planning, and technology commercialization.

The Clarion University SBDC is located in the Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development at Clarion University.

Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.