Small Business Development Center is honored

Published or Revised April 17, 2009

The Paris Junior College Small Business Development Center has won the SBDC of the Year award for the Dallas/Fort Worth Region of the Small Business Administration. The award will be presented at a luncheon in Arlington, Texas, on May 7. "The district is proud to recognize some of the brightest and most talented entrepreneurs and champions for small business," said SBA Dallas/Fort Worth District Director Herbert Austin. "The competition was very tough, and the winners were selected from nominations submitted from North, Central and East Texas". "We are thrilled to be named SBDC of the Year for the North Texas SBDC Network," said Director Pat Bell. "This is not an easy award to win as it's based on exceeding — not just meeting — our milestones, as well as collaborating and cooperating with partners in our service area. The Paris SBDC team works diligently helping to start and grow businesses to improve economic development and quality of life in the communities we serve, and our milestones are very aggressive for a completely rural service area. "We are extremely pleased the efforts of the Paris SBDC team are being recognized with this prestigious award," Bell continued. "This award is a reflection of that hard work by everyone in the Paris SBDC." "We are so very pleased for the Paris Junior College Small Business Development Center to be recognized with this honor," added PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. "The staff of the PJC SBDC work extremely hard to serve the small businesses of our area and are very deserving of this honor." The Paris Small Business Development Center is located at Paris Junior College and serves Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins, Delta and Red River counties. The center is at 2400 Clarksville St. in Paris and can be reached at 903-782-0223.