Go, Katz, go

If there are any doubts that entrepreneurial education is a growth industry, they might be dispelled by the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business’ Small Business Development Center and its experience with the demand on its management training services.

During the first six months of this year, the SBDC reports that it trained 1,174 people at 18 seminars, workshops and conferences. That compares to 667 trained during the same period last year — an increase of 43 percent. The SBDC also provided 3,679 hours of management consulting to 586 entrepreneurs. Nearly 1,200 phone calls were fielded by the SBDC during the first half of the year.

Other highlights of the Katz SBDC’s performance in entrepreneurial assistance this year include:

  • A significant increase in start-up capital and expansion capital secured by SBDC client companies. Businesses landed $5.85 million in the first six months of the year, compared to $4.8 million during the same period in 1998.

  • The opening of 37 new businesses by SBDC clients during the same period.

Pitt’s SBDC offers one-on-one business management consulting services in Allegheny, Washington and Greene counties through offices in Oakland, Harmarville, Wexford, Waynesburg and Washington, Pa. How to reach: The Small Business Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business, (412) 648-1544 or www.pitt.edu/~sbdc/.

Ray Marano