June 1, 2005 :: No. 228

Cal State Fullerton has been awarded a $1.6 million U.S. Small Business Administration contract to continue to oversee the SBA's regional small-business development centers for Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties through the end of 2005.

The university’s College of Business and Economics has been responsible for administration of the centers in Fullerton, Santa Ana and Riverside since 2003. The College of Business and Economics oversees the training, consulting and technical assistance the centers provide to businesses with less than 100 employees. Michael Ames, professor of management and director of the college’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Institute, leads the university effort with Cal State Fullerton alumna and attorney Vi Pham, who directs the Santa Ana District Small Business Development Center.

“Last year, our centers provided counsel to and trained more than 11,000 clients and had an economic impact of more than $78 million,” noted Pham. In addition to assisting with training and consultations, the center promotes technology transfer, funding and international trade for the region’s high-tech firms.

“We believe that these centers offer area businesses vital support and training and are a natural addition to our current efforts to help area and regional businesses,” said Anil K. Puri, dean of the College of Business and Economics, citing the college’s entrepreneurship program, as well as its Small Business Institute and Family Business Council. “Cal State Fullerton is well-positioned to provide leadership to the region’s small-business centers.”

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