North Coast SBDC director receives national recognition

Jan. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Eureka, CA - Michael Kraft, Executive Director of the North Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is the 2010 recipient of the Small Business Development Network State Star award.  

The State Star program is sponsored by the Association of Small Business Development Centers that recognizes outstanding Small Business Development Center staff from each state program. Michael was recognized at a special reception at the annual ASBDC conference banquet held in Texas and was presented his award by Antonio Doss of the US Small Business Administration.

According to Bob Judevine, the Associate Director of the Northern California Lead SBDC, Michael was chosen for this award because he shows unflagging commitment to the success of small businesses of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, effectively manages his resources to deliver a high level of business technical assistance and economic impact that exceeds centers in the state’s most populous areas, and consistently shares resources and supports regional goals to build business success in the entire region.

“The work for which I was recognized is the work of the entire team.  We have employees and contractors who are completely dedicated to small business success.  We have a great board working on our behalf.  We have partners in two counties without whom we couldn’t make any of this happen.  So I was happy to accept the award and it sits on my bookcase, but by no means is it mine alone” said Kraft.

In 2009 the North Coast SBDC assisted 724 clients with various business issues.  Those clients in turn created 139 new jobs and retained 424 jobs, opened 41 new businesses, and received 39 small business loans.  The SBDC also provided 284 hours of workshops and trainings.  Clients of the North Coast SBDC reported a $13,137,291 increase in sales and $13,730,184 in capital infusion into their businesses.  Each year clients of the North Coast SBDC are polled and data is collected in order to calculate the economic impact that they produce.  2010 economic impact data will be available in spring 2011.

The North Coast SBDC is a partner in economic development projects such as Humboldt Made, Decade of Difference, Economic Fuel, the Local Child Care Planning Council’s Needs Assessment, and the California Community Development Block Grant Microenterprise Loan Program administered by the Tri-Agency Economic Development Authority.

The North Coast SBDC provides business owners in Del Norte and Humboldt counties with low or no cost business counseling and training.  For more information visit their web site at www.northcoastsbdc.org

Photo caption: L - R:   Charles "Tee" Rowe, President/CEO, Association of Small Business Development Centers;  Jerry Cartwright, State Director, Florida SBDC;  Kristin Johnson, Director, Northern California Regional Lead SBDC;  Michael Kraft, Director, North Coast SBDC, State Star Recipient;  Antonio Doss, Associate Administrator, Office of Small Business Development Centers, U. S. Small Business Administration;  Jim Mullery, Vice President, ACT! Sales, Sage North America

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A non-profit that provides workshops, business assistance, counseling, training and in-depth financial analysis for start-up and existing companies in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties on the North Coast of California.