The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides funding for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Small Business and Technology Development Centers (SBTDCs) throughout the country. The SBA's Office of Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) manages the program which provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. SBDCs and SBTDCs offer one-stop assistance to individuals and small businesses by providing a wide variety of information and guidance in central and easily accessible branch locations. The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community and federal, state and local governments and is an integral component of Entrepreneurial Development's network of training and counseling services.

The University of Missouri Extension is the lead center for the Missouri SBTDC program. The Office of Technology Transfer and Economic Development at Missouri S&T operates an SBTDC service location under a contract with the University of Missouri Extension. The Missouri SBTDC program provides subsidized and unsubsidized services to strengthen the competitiveness of Missouri businesses. Additionally, the Missouri SBTDC program encourages and enhances technology research and development, technology transfer, and technology deployment and strives to increase the participation of small technology firms in the innovation and commercialization of new technology .

Training and Education
Missouri SBTDC business specialists are uniquely qualified to help small businesses start, develop, and thrive. It offers a variety of training seminars and programs on a variety of business topics in the areas of management, marketing, finance, and technology commercialization.

Technology Development and Commercialization
The Missouri SBTDC helps clients pursue various grant opportunities to fund technology research and development such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants,  Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants, and Leonard Wood Institute (LWI) grants. The SBTDC's goal is to help clients improve their competitiveness and secure federal research and development funds. Our business counselors help clients identify appropriate solicitations from federal agencies and their solicitations, review proposals, and facilitate partnerships.

Business Counseling
The Missouri SBTDC offers comprehensive and individualized business management counseling to clients. Missouri SBTDC counselors are skilled professionals with experience in many areas, including marketing and sales, accounting, financial analysis and cost control, personnel, inventory control, new business creation, business acquisition, and business sales. All information that clients share with the Missouri SBTDC is held in complete confidence.

Procurement Technical Assistance
Dealing with regulations and red tape can be frustrating. In fact, those obstacles often keep highly qualified suppliers from selling to the government. The Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) assists businesses, including small, disadvantaged and women-owned firms, in obtaining federal, state, and local government contracts. Missouri PTAC procurement specialists can helps clients identify opportunities and understand the government contracting process so that they take advantage of government sales dollars.

For more information about SBTDC services, please contact Barry White at (573) 341-4562 or e-mail us.