Paul Hasty grew up in Detroit, and his love for automobiles has translated into several auto-related business ventures. One of them is Tint Technologies, a Colorado Springs company that installs break-resistant window tint in autos, homes and commercial buildings.
Hasty, a U.S. Army veteran, started Tint Technologies in 1999 and says the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center played an important role in his success.
“The SBDC helped me to focus on growing my business instead of working in my business,” says Hasty, whose story is told in the 2023 Colorado SBDC Annual Report.
Math instructor Gregory Carlson and his team launched Cañon City-based Blickel, an open learning-management system, in 2018. Its proprietary software helps teachers develop curriculum, measure the effectiveness of lessons and track students’ progress.
Blickel’s team turned to the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center, which serves Pueblo, Fremont, Custer and Huerfano counties, for business advice and one-on-one counseling.
“SBDC has treated us as if they also have a stake in the success of our business,” Carlson says. His success story is related on the SBDC’s website.
Kat Fox consulted the Southern Colorado SBDC in 2021 after starting her marketing, branding, web design and graphic design business, Kat Fox Design, in Cañon City.
“I went from trying to find a client here and there to running a successful, full-time business thanks to the SBDC,” Fox says. “It really is a well-rounded tool you can use for your business anytime.”
Fox relocated to Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2023 but continues to consult with small businesses through the Southern Colorado and Southwest Colorado SBDCs.
The 14 full-time and more than 70 part-time Small Business Development Center offices in Colorado served more than 8,000 clients like Hasty and Carlson in 2023, according to the 2023 Annual Report, but they remain underutilized and little known to many small-business owners and hopeful entrepreneurs who could benefit from their services.
Southern Colorado is served by three main offices: The Pikes Peak SBDC in Colorado Springs, the Southern Colorado SBDC in Pueblo and the East Colorado SBDC, which has a main office in Greeley, as well as 17 satellite offices, including one in Trinidad.
The centers offer training workshops to help startups and existing businesses looking to grow. In-person events are held across the state, and many topics are covered in on-demand webinars.
But at the heart of each program is a group of small business navigators, the first point of contact for entrepreneurs and small-business owners. Many are fluent in English and Spanish and can work with interpreters if clients need to communicate in other languages.
Small business navigators link clients to Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade programs, including grant and loan financing, tax credits and other incentive programs across many industries. They also can connect businesses with free and low-cost advisory and training programs, provide information on legal assistance and consult on other crucial aspects of starting and running a business.
The navigators also help clients find consultants who provide services free of charge in areas including financial assistance, writing a business plan, certifications, e-commerce, marketing, social media strategies, taxes and website development.
SBDC disaster assistance consultants and partners have helped many small businesses recovering from wildfires and flooding. They also help businesses prepare in advance by developing long-term disaster recovery plans.
Specialized services include:
- SBDC TechSource, which provides direct assistance to tech ventures and assists other business owners in using new technology.
- SBDC Cyber CYA, which provides guidance to help businesses secure their digital content and comply with regulations
- Leading Edge™: An intensive strategic business-planning program for new and existing businesses.
According to the 2023 Annual Report, the state’s SBDC network counseled 8,087 clients, provided training for 18,857 people, helped 335 businesses get started and worked with businesses that created 1,484 jobs.
“We have seen year-over-year growth in engagement from women and minority business owners, and we’ve also seen encouraging trends among veteran workers and veteran-owned businesses,” says Hannah Krieger, state director of the Colorado SBDC network.
“Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur who needs help getting started, an existing small-business owner looking to expand, or you’re trying to find a way to exit the business and preserve your legacy, Colorado’s SBDC Network is here to support you on your journey.”
SOCO Small Business Development Centers
Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center
559 E. Pikes Peak Ave.
Colorado Springs
719-667-3803
Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center
121 W. City Center Dr.
Pueblo
719-549-3245
southerncoloradosbdc.org
East Colorado Small Business Development Center
Main Office
800 17th St.
Greeley
970-351-4274
Trinidad Satellite Office at Space to Create
204 W. Main St.
Trinidad
303-947-4669
