UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center Nationally Recognized by U.S. Small Business Administration

May 13, 2024 | Hannah Buchanan

The University of Texas at Tyler – Longview Small Business Development Center has been named the 2024 “SBDC of the Year” for the North Texas region by the US Small Business Administration. The center provides no-cost consulting and advising services to budding entrepreneurs and small businesses in Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Rusk, Panola and Upshur Counties.

The SBA annually recognizes SBDCs in its network that embody excellence in work conduct, advocacy, and performance metrics and objectives.

“This award reflects the significant impact the UT Tyler-Longview SBDC has in the region it serves. My congratulations go out to Day Shelmire, Brandy Flanagan, Virgel Conner and Lindsay Arden who are the ‘boots on the ground’ and responsible for this success,” said Dr. Krist Swimberghe, dean of the UT Tyler Soules College of Business.

Last year, the UT Tyler-Longview SBDC helped clients start 49 businesses, aided small businesses with infusing more than $10.9 million in capital and invested more than 2,400 advising hours toward small business assistance. Team members were recognized earlier this month an at awards ceremony hosted by the SBA North Texas regional office in Hurst.

“I am so proud of my team for making this award possible,” said center director Day Shelmire. “Their passion for small business and compassion for their clients is palpable, and this accolade reflects their hard work for the entrepreneurs and small business owners of East Texas.”

The UT Tyler – Longview SBDC has offices in Longview, Marshall, Jefferson and Henderson. For more information, contact Shelmire at dshelmire@uttyler.edu, or visit uttyler-longviewsbdc.org/.

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students. Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.