New small business support center coming soon thanks $2.1M grant for Lehigh U., partners – lehighvalleylive

Pennsylvania Initiative for Small Business Support Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The administration of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has announced a strategic investment of $21,445,823 through the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program. This funding will establish 11 new Business Assistance Service Centers dedicated to supporting small businesses owned by historically disadvantaged individuals. The initiative is a significant step towards achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development, directly aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Program Objectives and Services

The primary objective of the new centers is to promote economic empowerment and increase access to capital for underserved business owners, thereby fostering a more equitable economic landscape. This aligns with the core principles of leaving no one behind, central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The centers will provide a comprehensive suite of services, including:

• One-on-one business counseling
• Professional accounting assistance
• Training on employer responsibilities
• Support for contract procurement
• Guidance in identifying available local resources
• Bilingual staffing and translation services to ensure accessibility and inclusion

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This state-level program makes substantial contributions to the following global goals:

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By strengthening small businesses, which are the foundation of the state’s economy, the initiative directly promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and productive employment.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The program’s explicit focus on “historically disadvantaged” businesses is a direct action to reduce inequality within and among communities by providing targeted support to marginalized entrepreneurs.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty: Empowering small business owners enhances their economic stability and capacity for job creation, contributing to poverty reduction at the local level.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The program’s implementation model is built on multi-stakeholder partnerships, uniting state government with institutions of higher education and local non-profit organizations to achieve shared development objectives.
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Providing technical assistance and business support helps small enterprises to innovate, grow, and build resilience, fostering inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

Implementation Through Strategic Partnerships

The success of the initiative relies on a collaborative framework. The 11 centers will partner with local economic development organizations and non-profits to deliver tailored support. A key example of this partnership model is the allocation of $2,156,887 to Lehigh University. This funding will establish a center serving a multi-county region and leverage the expertise of several academic institutions.

• Lead Institution: Lehigh University
• Service Area: Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties
• Academic Partners:
  • Small Business Development Center at Wilkes University
  • Small Business Development Center at Kutztown University
  • Small Business Development Center at The University of Scranton

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article focuses on a government initiative to support small businesses, which are described as the “backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy.” The program’s goal to help these businesses “succeed and even expand” directly contributes to economic growth and potential job creation.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The program specifically targets “historically disadvantaged small businesses” and “underserved business owners.” By providing tailored support, the initiative aims to “promote economic empowerment” and bridge existing gaps, thereby reducing economic inequalities for these specific groups.
3. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article explicitly mentions that the implementation of the Business Assistance Service Centers involves collaboration. It highlights partnerships between government (providing funding), higher education institutions (Lehigh University, Wilkes University, etc.), and other local entities like “economic development organizations” and “non-profit organizations.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.”
    • Explanation: The establishment of 11 Business Assistance Service Centers is a development-oriented policy. The services offered, such as “one-on-one business counseling,” “accounting assistance,” and support to “increase access to capital,” are designed to foster entrepreneurship and stimulate the growth of small businesses.
• Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”
    • Explanation: The program’s core mission is to support “historically disadvantaged” and “underserved” business owners. This is a direct action to promote the economic inclusion and empowerment of groups that have traditionally faced barriers.
  • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.”
    • Explanation: This initiative is a specific policy action designed to ensure more equal opportunities for business success. By providing targeted resources like “bilingual staff and translation services” and “contract procurement support,” it aims to reduce the inequalities of outcome for disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
• Under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.”
    • Explanation: The article details a multi-sector partnership. The state government (public sector) provides the $21.4 million investment, while universities like Lehigh (civil society/academia) and other local non-profits and economic development organizations are responsible for delivering the services. This collaboration is central to the program’s structure.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 8 (Target 8.3):
  • Number of small businesses assisted: Progress can be measured by tracking how many businesses utilize the services of the 11 new centers.
  • Business expansion: The article states a goal is for businesses to “succeed and even expand.” This implies an indicator related to the growth in revenue, employees, or market share of the assisted businesses.
  • Increased access to capital: The program aims to “increase access to capital,” suggesting an indicator would be the total amount of funding or loans secured by businesses through the centers’ support.
• For SDG 10 (Targets 10.2 & 10.3):
  • Number of historically disadvantaged business owners served: A primary indicator is the count of individuals from the target demographic who receive assistance.
  • Total investment allocated: The article mentions the specific investment of “$21,445,823” as a key input indicator for the program’s scale and commitment to reducing inequality.
• For SDG 17 (Target 17.17):
  • Number of partnerships formed: The article mentions that Lehigh University will “partner with Small Business Development Centers from Wilkes University, Kutztown University, and The University of Scranton.” An indicator would be the total number of such formal collaborations established across all 11 centers to deliver services.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: lehighvalleylive.com