FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE February 15, 2019

Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), and the New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have announced that the Mohawk Valley SBDC is locating its operations at MVCC’s thINCubator at 326 Broad St. in Utica. At its new location, the Mohawk Valley SBDC will be even closer to community members being served by the organization, and it will be able to build upon its strong foundation that results from the multi-year support it received from SUNY Poly.

The joint announcement was made by MVCC President Dr. Randall J. VanWagoner, SUNY Poly Interim President Dr. Grace Wang, and Small Business Association Syracuse District Director Bernard Paprocki. President VanWagoner said, “This move is another step toward fulfillment of the entrepreneurship pledge made by MVCC in August 2018 to increase the College's focus on entrepreneurship. We are thrilled to have the Mohawk Valley SBDC join with us in our entrepreneurship initiatives to foster economic growth in our community.”

The Mohawk Valley SBDC was established in 1986 to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs in Oneida, Madison, Herkimer, and Lewis Counties with the highest quality confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost. As one of 22 regional centers around the state, the Mohawk Valley SBDC has worked directly with 13,549 businesses, helping them to invest $255,275,686 in the area’s economy, and it has created or saved 7,620 jobs to-date. The Mohawk Valley SBDC has three business advisors and a government contracting coordinator.

“SUNY Polytechnic Institute is proud of our history of supporting the Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center. We are excited to work collaboratively with the New York State SBDC and MVCC to enable the Mohawk Valley SBDC to more efficiently achieve its important mission and provide community members with even greater access to its business services,” said SUNY Poly Interim President Dr. Grace Wang. “We are thrilled to continue our strong partnership with MVCC as we find the best ways to serve the needs of the Mohawk Valley, and we look forward to the Mohawk Valley SBDC’s continued success."

SBDC State Director Brian Goldstein said, “I have seen first-hand MVCC’s and SUNY Poly’s dedication to entrepreneurship, and when I was approached earlier this year with this plan, it soon became evident that this would be a win-win for the community and SBDC.” 

“Bringing MVCC’s thINCubator and the SBDC under one roof will centralize entrepreneurship services and provide a “one-stop shop” of entrepreneurial assistance for our region’s entrepreneurs, students, and business owners looking to create opportunities for economic growth and creativity,” said Frank DuRoss, vice president of Community Development and executive director of MVCC Foundation.

An open house was held Friday, Feb. 15. Members of the community who may be interested in the Mohawk Valley SBDC’s services are encouraged to visit the organization’s new location, or contact sbdc@mvcc.edu for more information.

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About the Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center Our center is one of 22 regional centers throughout New York State that make up the NY SBDC network. We provide free, confidential business advisement services to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, and Oneida counties. Whether you’re currently in business or thinking about starting a business in New York State, we’re here to help! We can meet with you at our regional office or any of our outreach offices, at your location, or at another location convenient to you. For more information, visit http://mohawkvalley.nyssbdc.org/.

About Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) Mohawk Valley Community College, established in 1946, is New York State’s first community college with a mission to provide accessible, high-quality educational opportunities for everyone. As the community’s college, MVCC is committed to student success through partnerships, transfer and career pathways, and personal enrichment. With campuses in Utica and Rome, MVCC is the region’s primary provider of college education, offering 90 degree and certificate options for its enrollment of 6,000 full- and part-time students. MVCC also serves an additional 6,000 people through its corporate and community education programs, and its campuses welcome more than 50,000 people annually for community events. For more information, visit mvcc.edu.

About the New York State Small Business Development Center The NY SBDC, administered by SUNY, has 22 regional service centers located throughout the New York State on SUNY, City University of New York (CUNY) and private university campuses. Since inception in 1984, the SBDC has provided small business advisement services to more than 460,000 New Yorkers. The SBDC also provides training and business research to existing business owners and entrepreneurs. SBDC clients have invested more than $6 billion in NY, impacting more than 195,000 jobs.

The SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, local communities, and host campuses. As a result of this leveraged support, the SBDC staff provides confidential one-on-one business advisement services at no direct cost to the citizens and entrepreneurs of New York. For more information about the SBDC, visit http://www.nysbdc.org.

About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) SUNY Poly is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.