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February 28, 2017 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
With more than 300 attendees from 90+ Texas cities, the Texas Rural Challenge is the largest conference of its kind in the state (San Antonio, February 20, 2017) – Early registration is now open for the Texas Rural Challenge, an annual conference hosted by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development–Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Rural Business Program. With a focus on economic development in rural Texas, the SBDC Rural Business Program has partnered with the City of Waco and numerous agencies across Texas to launch its 8th annual Texas Rural Challenge (TRC) conference in Waco, TX from June 29-30. This year’s conference, “Empowering Rural Texas,” will focus on small business growth, community and economic development, and leadership. The two-day conference will feature keynote speakers,
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January 30, 2017 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
(San Antonio, February 2, 2017) — The UTSA Institute for Economic Development continues to create jobs, spur business growth and promote economic development. As reported in its newly released 2016 annual report, the Institute had a $1.9 billion direct economic impact nationwide. During the 2016 fiscal year, the Institute: Served 41,359 business and community clients Provided trainings and workshops to 28,720 participants Managed 8,009 consulting cases Helped launch 591 new businesses Help expand 531 existing businesses Supported the creation of 7,517 new jobs and the retention of 7,442 jobs Overall, the Institute comprises 10 centers and programs dedicated to creating jobs, growing businesses and fostering economic and community development, and serves greater San Antonio, the Texas-Mexico border area and regional, national and international stakeholders. Last year, businesses such as San
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November 18, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
AUSTIN, November 15, 2016 – On Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Austin City Hall, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Jay Williams, announced major U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) investments for Texas and other states. Through a collaborative effort, the UTSA Institute for Economic Development’s SBDC Technology Commercialization Center and the UTSA Office of Commercialization Innovation (OCI) were among national awardees of the EDA-sponsored Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) i6 Challenge competition, securing a $500,000 matching grant towards their $ 1 Million project. The national innovation competition awards nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship-focused organizations to spur innovation capacity-building activities nationwide. Austin City Mayor Steve Adler joined Assistant Secretary Jay Williams for the announcement. The i6 Challenge Grant is a leading national program designed to build globally competitive regions
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October 6, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center San Antonio created approximately 1,500 jobs from 2015-2016 through their work with minority entrepreneurs and business owners. SAN ANTONIO, October 6, 2016 – The UTSA Institute for Economic Development’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center San Antonio returned from the MBDA 2016 National Training Conference hosted in Denver, CO with two excellence awards including “Century Club Outstanding Performance” and “Highest National Number of Jobs Created.” Located at The University of Texas Institute for Economic Development, the MBDA San Antonio Business Center is part of a nationwide network of 40 MBDA Business Centers that assist minority entrepreneurs and business owners with consulting services, contract and financing opportunities, bonding and certification services, building business-to-business alliances, global/ teaming/joint venture opportunities,
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October 6, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development’s International Trade Center is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in the U.S. and has worked with over 20 countries across the Western Hemisphere. SAN ANTONIO, October 6, 2016 – Through a collaboration with America’s Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) and the Centro Regional de Promoción de la MIPYME (CENPROMYPE), the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute for Economic Development’s International Trade Center received $1.8 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) to continue supporting efforts to replicate the U.S. Small Business Development Center (SBDC) model in Central America. The International Trade Center is leading an SBDC international expansion initiative through their SBDCGlobal program. SBDCGlobal directly stems from President Barack
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October 6, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
SAN ANTONIO, October 6, 2016 – The UTSA Institute for Economic Development’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center San Antonio will host its 34th Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week) from October 14-20, 2016. This year’s theme, “The Flow of Entrepreneurship: Past / Present / Future,” will celebrate minority entrepreneurs and their champions. Funded by the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the MBDA Business Center San Antonio is part of a nationwide network of more than 40 MBDA business centers that have business specialists who support minority businesses access markets and capital. The media is invited to attend the awards luncheon: On October 20, the San Antonio MBDA Business Center will host its Annual MED Week Awards Luncheon from 11:30
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September 1, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
The SBDC Technology Commercialization Center is the first Center within The UT System to earn a FAST grant award. SAN ANTONIO, September 1, 2016 – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Innovation & Technology has awarded a Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program grant to the SBDC Technology Commercialization Center (SBDC TCC) of UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development. UTSA is the first University of Texas system institution, and one of only two institutions in the state of Texas to have ever received the award. The Center’s Texas-FITT (Federal Innovation and Technology Transfer) program is focused on increasing the participation and award success for innovative entrepreneurs and small technology firms in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The awards greatly enhance
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April 7, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
The UTSA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Rural Business Program and the Governor’s Small Business Forum, will host the 7th annual Texas Rural Challenge June 9-10 at the Waco Convention Center and Hilton Waco. This year’s theme is “Small town BIG IDEAS”. Keynote Speakers include: • Sid Miller – Commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture • Carlos Cascos – Texas Secretary of State • Libby Lane, Libby Lane Leather Goods • Carrie Kelleher – Small Business Owner The Governor’s office will present Governor’s Small Business Awards to 2-3 exemplary small businesses. Additional breakout sessions feature expert panelists in water, entrepreneurship, community development, tourism, and rural housing. “The Texas Rural Challenge is different from other conferences because it offers an opportunity for rural Texans to engage with one another, openly discuss best
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March 28, 2016 by UTSA Intitutue for Economic Development
While some think of interns and student workers as assistants who take care of rote tasks, IED student researchers are changing that paradigm and have fuller roles steeped in experiential learning. Instead of seeing an IED student researcher hovering over a copy machine or running errands around campus, you might see him or her briefing an international delegation, developing a foreign investment business plan, accessing a specialized database to develop a marketing plan for a national client, conducting data collection, or presenting research findings to a CEO. “Student researchers are a critical component of our client’s success,” said UTSA Sr. Associate Vice President for Economic Development Robert McKinley, “Their research provides entrepreneurs with valuable information and solutions, meanwhile students gain practical experience.” In 2015, the IED generated $2.6 billion in economic