Daley named small business champion
State Rep. Peter J. Daley, II (D-Fayette/Washington) was named a Small Business Champion by Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers for his role in supporting small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
This is the second time that Daley received the award since 2011. He was recognized last month while visiting the University of Pittsburgh SBDC during its Planning for Profits seminar graduation that included 24 local business owners.
“The proven and fiscally responsible programs provided by Small Business Development Centers are the real story,” said Daley, who is retiring at the end of this year with 34 years of service in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
During a period when new jobs are in demand, SBDC State Director Christian Conroy commended Daley’s leadership in advocating for proven and fiscally responsible programs like SBDC that everyday work to help small companies thrive.
“Rep. Daley’s support has been critical to ensuring that the SBDC will continue to be available to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania and throughout the nation,” said Conroy.
The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 18 universities and colleges across the state, including the University of Pittsburgh and St. Vincent College.
According to Daley, small businesses create the majority of jobs in our economy and SBDCs are a great resource for their growth and prosperity.
Raymond Vargo, director, University of Pittsburgh SBDC, said the center has partnered with Daley on education training programs and made available outreach office hours in his Donora office so small business owners can meet with a local SBDC consultant.
During Daley’s service as a Commerce Committee chair, Vargo said he made sure the voice of small business played an important part to the overall economic development plan for the region.
In March, the University of Pittsburgh SBDC was one of five winners of the Lean for Main Street Training Challenge competition.
The Challenge is designed to give representatives from SBA’s resource partner network the opportunity to adapt an existing curriculum to help Main Street small businesses and entrepreneurs use the insights of lean business methodologies.
Following program training, the University of Pittsburgh SBDC developed a six-session Planning for Profits seminar to provide in-depth training on lean methodologies and business growth strategies.
The Pennsylvania SBDC network is the only statewide, nationally accredited program that provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training and information resources to empower new and existing businesses.
Program consultants work with entrepreneurs in confidential, individualized sessions to help them with a range of business issues including testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, investigating funding opportunities, and more.
Those interested in joining the Be Local Network can contact Ted Flowers at 724-425-7231 or by email at tflowers@heraldstandard.com. Discount cards are available at the Herald-Standard, 8 E. Church St., Uniontown, and at the Greene County Messenger, 82 W. High St., Waynesburg.