Tower-Fall-2018

2 TOWER | FALL 2018 KU SELECTED AS NEW HOME OF PA-SBDC LEAD OFFICE A ribbon cutting was held September 28 in the Georgian Room of Old Main, to welcome the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center (PA-SBDC) Lead Office to the Kutztown University campus. KU received a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to serve as the new site of PA-SBDC Lead Office. The Lead Office is responsible for the financial and programmatic oversight of the statewide SBDC network. It has been headquartered at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School for 37 years. With 18 college- and university-based centers and more than 90 outreach centers located throughout the state of Pennsylvania, the PA-SBDCs provide education and no-cost consulting services to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Pictured (left to right): Michael T. Kane, deputy district director, Eastern PA office, SBA; Sonya Smith, associate director of Programs & Policy, PA-SBDC; Neil Fowler, director, PA Department of Community & Economic Development; Dr. Ernie Post, state director, PA-SBDC; Adriana Menchaca-Gendron, deputy associate administrator, SBA; Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, president, Kutztown University.