Small Business Development Center recognized with Excellence Award
April 7, 2025Yuma, Ariz. (April 7, 2025) – The Arizona Western Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been awarded the Excellence Award from the Arizona District Office of the Small Business Administration, recognizing the SBDC for its work in supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in Yuma and La Paz counties.
“I am truly honored and deeply grateful to receive the Arizona Small Business Development Center of Excellence Award,” said SBDC Director Crystal Mendoza. “This recognition means so much to my team and me, and we are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve and support Arizona’s small business community. Leading AWC’s SBDC has been an incredibly rewarding journey, and this award reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion that my team brings every day to helping entrepreneurs succeed. We are continually inspired by the resilience and innovation of the small business owners we work with, and we remain committed to providing them with the resources and guidance they need to thrive.”
In 2024, AWC’s SBDC supported over 1,633 entrepreneurs, helped start 41 businesses, created 121 full-time jobs, and contributed to $3.2 million in sales growth. The SBDC team provides one-on-one counseling, training, and resource assistance to local businesses, working tirelessly over the past two years to expand the services they offer and introduce innovative programs to help businesses thrive.
The team will accept the award at the AZ Small Biz Con 2025 on May 7 in Phoenix, Ariz.
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About the Arizona Western Small Business Development Center:
Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serves small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Yuma and La Paz Counties by providing high-quality, high-impact one-on-one counseling, resource assistance, and training to preserve and create small business jobs and revenue, and to facilitate capital formation throughout Arizona.
Contact:
Crystal Mendoza
Director of the Small Business Development Center
Arizona Western Entrepreneurial College
crystal.mendoza@azwestern.edu
(928) 317-6151