The Small Business Development Center hosted by College of the Canyons was recently honored with three ‘highest achievement’ awards at the annual Los Angeles Regional SBDC Award and Recognition Dinner – including the organization’s prestigious ‘Overall Highest Performer’ award.

The awards ceremony, which was sponsored by the SBDC Lead Center at Long Beach City College and attended by members of the Los Angeles District Small Business Administration, recognized four categories of performance among the network of seven Southern California area SBDC locations.

The Overall Highest Performer award is given to the SBDC with the most significant results in helping clients achieve their economic milestones including: job creation, sales increases, capital infusion, new business startups and long term consulting engagements.

“I am honored to receive these awards on behalf of the 15 expert business advisors who accomplish so much for our small business clients. It’s gratifying to see their hard work and success recognized with these awards,” said Steve Tannehill, Director of the SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons.

In addition to being named the network’s ‘Overall Highest Performer,’ the SBDC at College of the Canyons was presented with both the ‘Highest Capital Infusion’ and ‘Highest Extended Engagement Clients’ awards.

“I also want to acknowledge the support we receive from College of the Canyons and the SBDC’s more than 18 local business and municipal sponsors,” added Tannehill. “This year with their support we were able to access increased amounts of matched federal funding, enabling us to deliver roughly 400 hours of additional consulting support to more than 60 additional businesses.”

The ‘Highest Capital Infusion’ award is given to the SBDC that helped clients obtain the largest amount of capital. In 2009, clients of the SBDC at College of the Canyons were able to secure roughly $5.7 million in debt and equity capital.

The ‘Highest Extended Engagement Clients’ award is given to the SBDC with the largest number of clients continuously engaged in long-term intensive consulting agreements with the center. In all, the SBDC at College of the Canyons served nearly 250 such clients in 2009.

“These awards validate our efforts to influence the economic development of our region by boosting job creation and business retention. Our ability to form partnerships, generate cash and in-kind support for our economic development initiatives continues to be a model throughout the state,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne Van Hook. “Congratulations to director Steve Tannehill, SBDC assistant director Catherine Grooms and all the business advisors at the SBDC for their hard work on behalf of small businesses throughout northern Los Angeles County.”

The SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons was launched in January 2006 and serves the Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, and San Fernando Valleys. SBDC business advisors assist prospective and existing small business owners start, retain or expand their businesses by providing workshops, free one-on-one consulting, and many other resources to the business community.

The SBDC hosted by College of the Canyons is part of a network of seven Small Business Development Centers serving businesses from Santa Barbara County, Ventura County and Los Angeles County.

Earlier this year the SBDC moved its offices into the new state-of-the-art Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center, located on the college’s Valencia campus, in order to provide clients with a broader range of training and counseling facilities.

“The combination of consulting expertise, housed at a college committed to economic development and funded by the federal, state and local sponsors found at our SBDC is proving a powerful resource for small businesses in Northern Los Angeles County,” added Tannehill. “We look forward to growing our program and providing even higher levels of support in 2010.”

For more information about the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted by College of the Canyons please call (661) 362-5900 or visit www.cocsbdc.com.