The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Onondaga Community College has a new name that encompasses the region it covers. As of December 1, it will be known as the North Central Small Business Development Center.

The North Central Small Business Development Center, hosted by Onondaga Community College in Syracuse and Jefferson Community College in Watertown, serves an 8-county territory in Central New York and the North Country including Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, and Seneca counties.

This Small Business Development Center began serving the region in 1984. It provides no-cost, confidential advisement services to existing and aspiring entrepreneurs at all stages of the business life cycle, from pre-venture through succession planning.

“The name change to the North Central Small Business Development Center is a more accurate representation of the territory we serve and will more easily identify with the diverse population of people seeking our assistance,” said Robert Griffin, Regional Director for the North Central Small Business Development Center. “I want to thank OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton and the members of our Regional Advisory Board for their support and guidance through this process.”

The North Central SBDC is one of 19 Regional Small Business Development Centers in New York State. Over its 40-year history, the Center has served more than 58,000 individuals, supporting more than 4400 new businesses and over $700 million in documented small business investment. Two of its clients received prestigious awards this year. Vetted Tech Inc., was named the “2024 Upstate New York Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year.” Hand In Hand Early Childhood Center, was named the “2024 New York Rural Small Business of the Year.”

More information about the North Central SBDC can be found at www.NorthCentralSBDC.org.

The local SBDC’s prior name was Onondaga/Watertown Small Business Development Center.