San Antonio, December 12, 2014 – The International Trade Center, an SBDC at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Economic Development, announced today that it will complete its four-module Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Advisor and Director Certificate Training in Tegucigalpa, Honduras December 16-17, 2014.
SBDCs, established throughout the U.S. by the federal government in partnership with state governments and universities and colleges, assist entrepreneurs and business owners in establishing and growing their businesses through free and confidential advising services. Services include, but are not limited to, feasibility studies, business strategy, financial planning, marketing, production and professional networking. The centers support new and existing businesses.
The goal of the SBDC Advisor and Director Certificate Training is to transfer the SBDC model methodology and train professionals on how to manage and operate an economic impact-producing SBDC and to connect and promote trade between small businesses in both countries and with the rest of the Americas and the Caribbean. This training is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development’s International SBDC Global Initiative that since 2003, with the support of the U.S. government, has been helping countries develop U.S.-modeled SBDC networks in the Americas.
UTSA International Trade Center Director Cliff Paredes and Global SBDC Instructional Coordinator Minerva Garcia will conduct UTSA’s Advisor and Director Certificate training.
“Honduras has made great progress in implementing the US SBDC model,” said Cliff Paredes, Director of the UTSA International Trade Center who leads UTSA’s program that has developed and administers this training. “Right now there are 6 operational SBDCs in Honduras working with local entrepreneurs and established businesses using the methodology and training that we provided to them, with four more slated to open their doors to the public in early 2015.”
Since May of 2012, UTSA has conducted three rounds of Certificate Training in Honduras with more than 320 participants having completed the certification, most of whom will go on to be SBDC Directors or Advisors.
The International Trade Center at UTSA is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in Texas. It helps companies become globally competitive through technical trade consulting, customized market research and innovative training programs. The center is a specialty SBDC program in the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network. Follow them on Twitter (@TexasTrade) and like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/texastrade).
For more information on the project, visit http://www.sbdcglobal.com/index.php/us/international-sbdc.html.
